Xeeis — Lina Lutfiawati, who goes by Lina Mukherjee on social media, has been handed a two-year prison sentence in Indonesia under the country’s blasphemy law. This decision comes as a result of a video she posted on TikTok, in which she recited an Islamic prayer before trying pork during her visit to Bali, a popular tourist destination.
The 33-year-old was recently tried in the Palembang district court on Sumatra Island and found guilty of “spreading information aimed at inciting hatred against religious individuals and specific groups,” as stated in court documents.
In addition to the prison sentence, Lina Lutfiawati has been fined $16,245 (equivalent to 250,000,000 Indonesian rupiah). This amount is significant in a country where the annual per capita wage averages around $4,300. It’s worth noting that her prison term could be extended by three months if she fails to pay the imposed fine.
Following the trial, Lina Mukherjee expressed her shock at the severity of the sentence when speaking to reporters. She admitted her wrongdoing, but the punishment exceeded her expectations. There is a possibility that she may file an appeal against the ruling.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, with approximately 231 million Muslims, has seen a rise in religious conservatism in recent years. Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the increasing use of blasphemy laws against religious minorities and individuals perceived as having insulted Islam.
Pork is considered forbidden in Islam, and the consumption of pork remains a taboo among the majority of Indonesian Muslims. However, millions of non-Muslims in Indonesia, including the ethnic Chinese population and those on the Hindu-majority island of Bali, commonly consume pork.
Lina Mukherjee, who identifies as Muslim, has a substantial social media following, with over 2 million followers. She is known for her lifestyle and food-related videos, which often feature her trying various dishes. However, one particular video she shared on TikTok in March sparked controversy. In the video, she was seen reciting the Islamic phrase “Bismillah” (In the name of Allah) before sampling crispy pork skin while dining in Bali.
“Bismillah” is a fundamental and frequently used holy phrase in Islam, often uttered by Muslims before meals. The video garnered millions of views but was met with strong criticism from religious groups, including the Indonesian Ulema Council, the country’s top Islamic clerical body, which labeled it as “blasphemous.”
The video’s backlash led to a public complaint, initiating a police investigation that eventually led to Lina Mukherjee’s prosecution. Throughout the trial, photos and videos captured her emotional moments, often in tears, and she was accompanied by heightened security.
The situation highlights concerns about Indonesia’s evolving stance on religious freedom and tolerance. The increase in the number of articles related to blasphemy in the criminal code is seen by some as a setback for freedom of religion and belief in the country. This shift contradicts the global trend of either not enforcing blasphemy laws or abolishing them altogether.
Notably, one of Indonesia’s most high-profile blasphemy cases involved Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, commonly known as Ahok, an ethnic Chinese Indonesian politician who served as Jakarta’s first non-Muslim governor in 50 years. Ahok faced a blasphemy trial in 2017 after referencing a Quranic verse during his re-election campaign in 2016. Despite issuing a public apology, he was sentenced to two years in prison.