A Russian yoga influencer has recently been deported after she posed naked under a sacred tree in Bali.
Instagram star Alina Fazleeva, known as Alina Yoga by her thousands of followers, shared the images on her social media account where they soon found their way to Balinese entrepreneur Niluh Djelantik who called on the local authorities to intervene.
Djelantik said Alina had posed naked at the 700-year-old weeping paperbark tree, known locally as kayu putih.
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The photos show Alina perched on the trunk, completely naked, with her breasts and bottom pressed into the winding roots of the tree trunk
The tree itself is located at Babakan Temple in the regency of Tabanan on the Indonesian paradise island of Bali.
As the giant tree is considered sacred to locals, the nude images have since caused outrage.
Upon finding out that the photos were offensive, Alina aptly deleted the original images from her account and posted an apology video on 4 May.
The couple have since had to partake in a cleansing ceremony at the site of the offence in accordance with local belief,
A new video – showing her fully clothed and praying at the base of the sacred tree – was accompanied by the message: “I apologise to all Balinese and Indonesian people, I regret my actions."
The influencer continued: "I'm so embarrassed, I didn't mean to offend you in any way, absolutely no knowledge of this place.
"I just prayed under a tree and went straight to the police station to explain this incident and apologise.”
Dozens have since offered up their views on the matter.
One Facebook user commented: "Today there are so many naive and poor travellers. They travel so badly and don’t figure out the best and creative ways to enjoy their freedom, they just do the same stuff they want to do back home."
Whereas some people weren't as sympathetic, "Serves her right for being disrespectful!"
Others used the whole ordeal as an example of a wider problem surrounding social media, arguing that: "People have to stop doing things for likes on social media… If she really wanted a picture in such a manner she should have kept the picture private for her personal memories… Sharing it wasn’t necessary and now she is caught up with authorities…"
Bali immigration chief, Jamaruli Manihuruk, stated: "Both of them are proven to have carried out activities that endanger public order and do not respect the local norms."
He concluded: ""So, they will be sanctioned with deportation."
Alina and her husband will be deported from Bali following the nude photo shoot at the site of the sacred tree on the grounds of violation of local culture.
The couple will also be banned from the country for at least a minimum of six months.
Topics: Instagram
Rhiannon Ingle