In a shocking turn of events, a woman in Indonesia has been sentenced to two years in prison for a viral TikTok video in which she ate pork, a forbidden food in Islam, and recited an Islamic phrase. Lina Lutfiawati, also known as Lina Mukherjee, filmed herself eating crispy pork skin while traveling in Bali, a popular holiday island where the majority of the population identifies as Hindu rather than Muslim. The video, which was published in March and garnered widespread attention, showed Mukherjee saying "Bismillah," an Arabic phrase meaning "in the name of God," before consuming the pork.
Indonesia, the largest Muslim-majority country in the world, strictly adheres to Islamic teachings, making the consumption of pork considered haram, or forbidden. This incident has sparked outrage among conservative groups, including the Indonesian Ulema Council, the country's top Muslim clerical body, which deemed the video blasphemous.
The 33-year-old influencer, who identifies as Muslim, has over 2 million followers on TikTok. However, her fame has now come with severe consequences. On Tuesday, the Palembang court in South Sumatra province sentenced Mukherjee to two years in prison for "spreading information aimed at inciting hatred against religious individuals and specific groups." In addition to her prison sentence, she was also ordered to pay a fine of 250 million rupiah ($16,262). Failure to pay the fine could result in an extension of her jail term by three months.
Mukherjee's actions have reignited the debate over blasphemy laws in Indonesia, which have long been criticized for suppressing freedom of expression and targeting religious minorities. Usman Hamid, the Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, expressed his disappointment, stating that the government's promises to protect freedom of expression have repeatedly been proven empty. He further highlighted the cases of other individuals, such as former Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian, who was sentenced to two years in prison in 2017 for alleged blasphemy after quoting a verse from the Quran during a re-election campaign speech.
The conviction of Mukherjee is yet another example of how Indonesia's blasphemy laws are being used to curtail individual freedoms and target those who hold different religious beliefs. Critics argue that these laws not only restrict freedom of expression but also contribute to the marginalization and discrimination faced by religious minorities in the country.
Mukherjee expressed her surprise and remorse after the trial, stating that she had apologized multiple times and acknowledged her wrongdoing. However, she did not anticipate such a harsh sentence. The case serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding religious sensitivities in Indonesia, a country that prides itself on its diversity but struggles to balance the protection of religious beliefs with individual freedoms.
As the news of Mukherjee's conviction spreads, it has ignited discussions about the limits of freedom of expression and the need for reform in Indonesia's blasphemy laws. Many hope that this incident will prompt a reevaluation of these laws and a more inclusive approach that respects the rights of all individuals, regardless of their religious affiliations.
