A two-year prison sentence has been handed down to a Content Creator following the circulation of a viral video in which she recited a Muslim prayer before consuming pork while visiting the tourist destination of Bali.
Lina Mukherjee, an Indonesian TikTok personality, came under scrutiny after her video garnered millions of views on the popular social media platform. This particular video, filmed in March, depicted her seated at a dining table, uttering the Islamic phrase “Bismillah” (In the name of Allah) before partaking in crispy pork skin.
Mukherjee, who identifies as a Muslim herself, was ultimately found guilty of “disseminating content with the intent to incite hatred against religious individuals and specific groups” during a trial held in the city of Palembang. Alongside the prison term, she was also slapped with a substantial fine, amounting to 250 million rupiah (£13,000).
Following the trial, Mukherjee expressed her astonishment at the severity of the sentence when speaking to reporters outside the courtroom on Tuesday. She stated, “I acknowledge my mistake, but I truly did not anticipate such a harsh penalty.”
Indonesia, home to the world’s largest Muslim population, with 231 million individuals, approximately 93% of its adult populace, adhering to Islam, has witnessed a noticeable increase in religious conservatism in recent years. Rights advocacy groups have sounded alarms, warning that blasphemy laws are increasingly being employed against religious minorities and individuals perceived to have offended the Islamic faith.
It’s important to note that the consumption of pork is strictly prohibited in Islam, and it remains a deeply ingrained taboo within the religion.
