Indonesian woman eats pork in Tiktok video – two years in prison France does not want to accept migrants from Lampedusa

In Indonesia, a well-known influencer was sentenced to two years in prison for reciting an Islamic prayer formula and then eating pork. The consumption of pork is strictly forbidden in Islam, but the woman known for her Tiktok videos filmed herself doing so and posted the clip online.

The lifestyle influencer with the stage name Lina Mukherjee, who has more than two million followers on Tiktok, was sentenced to prison for “incitement to hatred” and also to a fine of approximately 15,200 euros, the newspaper “Tribun Jambi” reported on Thursday quotes the responsible court in Palembang on the island of Sumatra.

The woman said she had a week to appeal, but would likely decide against it, the newspaper said. The fine may even be increased.

The 33-year-old describes himself as Muslim. She says she goes by her Indian-sounding stage name Lina Mukherjee because of her great love for Bollywood films. In the video, recorded in March, she uses the Arabic phrase “Bismillah” (In the name of God), which appears at the beginning of almost every surah in the Quran. Then she eats a piece of crispy pork skin – out of pure curiosity, as she says. The video was viewed millions of times – and also heavily criticized. She was eventually reported to the police and arrested in July.

The footage was reportedly shot in Bali, the only Hindu island in Indonesia. The Southeast Asian island nation is the most populous Muslim country in the world. After the verdict, Mukherjee apologized to the Indonesian people, according to broadcaster KompasTV, “because as a public figure I have made mistakes that are not exemplary.”

Indonesia has strict blasphemy laws that are internationally controversial. Human rights activists criticized the verdict. “What happened to Lina is not surprising, despite the government’s promises to protect the right to freedom of religion or belief and the right to freedom of expression,” said Usman Hamid of Amnesty International Indonesia. Blasphemy laws have long been abused to oppress minorities and dissidents. (sda/dpa)