An influencer who shared a video in which she recited a Muslim prayer then ate pork has been sentenced to two years in prison for violating Indonesia's blasphemy law. The influencer, Lina Lutfiawati, also known as Lina Mukherjee on TikTok, identifies as Muslim, according to the court.
Court documents said the influencer is being punished for "spreading information aimed at inciting hatred against religious individuals and specific groups." Lina has more than 2 million followers on social media and is best known for creating food and lifestyle content.
Under Islamic law, eating pork is "haram," or forbidden. BBC reported that Lina tried babi guling, a popular street food that contains pork, while traveling in Bali because she was curious. Though Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country, Bali is a Hindu-majority region. Millions of people watched the controversial video after it was shared on TikTok. CNN reported that the country's top Muslim clerical body called the video "blasphemous."
One person who saw the video was offended and reported her to the police, since she "knowingly eating pork skin as a Muslim," BBC reported. Lina also has to pay a fine equivalent to $16,250, according to Al Jazeera. "I know that I am wrong, but I did not expect this punishment," she told a local news station, Al Jazeera reported.
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Some activists oppose Indonesia's blasphemy laws, claiming that they tend to affect religious minorities most often, according to BBC. Some social media users believe that Lina was rightfully put in jail for what she did, while others thought the punishment was harsh and unfair.
