An Indonesian court sentenced a woman to two years in prison and fined her after she recited an Islamic prayer before eating pork in a viral TikTok video that sparked widespread outrage in the Muslim-majority country.

Lina Mukherjee, 33, was found guilty of “spreading information aimed at inciting hatred against religious individuals and specific groups” by a court in Palembang, South Sumatra, on Tuesday.

It came after a resident reported Mukherjee in March for the viral video in which she said a Muslim prayer that translates to “in the name of God” before eating crispy pork skin.

Pork is forbidden under Islam, Indonesia’s dominant religion.

Mukherjee is a Muslim, and her actions were condemned by conservative groups, including the Indonesian Ulema Council, the country’s top Muslim clerical body, which issued a ruling calling the video blasphemous.

She was also fined 250 million rupiah (USD16,200), and if she did not pay it, her sentence would be extended by three months.

This is the most recent in a long line of blasphemy cases in the country.

Last year, Indonesian police arrested six people on blasphemy charges in connection with a pub chain’s free alcohol promotion for customers named Mohammed.

Rights groups have long fought against laws that they claim are frequently used to target religious minorities.

In 2017, Jakarta’s ex-governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, also known as Ahok, was imprisoned for nearly two years on blasphemy charges.

Purnama, a Christian, was imprisoned for remarks he made on the campaign trail during his re-election bid that were deemed insulting to Islam.

Info source – New Straits Times