In a controversial ruling, an Indonesian court has sentenced a prominent TikTok influencer Lina Lutfiawati to two years in jail for posting a viral video in which she uttered an Islamic phrase before consuming pork.
Lina Lutfiawati, 33, also known by the Indian name Lina Mukherjee, was found guilty of "inciting hatred" against religious individuals and groups, a verdict that has reignited the debate surrounding Indonesia's stringent blasphemy laws.
Lina, a lifestyle influencer with over two million TikTok followers, identifies as a Muslim but faced severe backlash for her video, in which she uttered "Bismillah," an Arabic phrase translating to "in the name of God," before eating crispy pork skin during a visit to Bali, a region with a majority Hindu population.
The video quickly gained millions of views but was met with widespread criticism, leading to another Indonesian citizen reporting Lutfiawati to the police for "knowingly eating pork skin as a Muslim." Subsequently, in May, she was charged with disseminating hateful information, with authorities alleging that her actions constituted an act of hostility based on ethnicity, religion, and race.
Conservative groups across Indonesia, including the Ulema Council, the country's top Muslim clerical body, condemned the video as blasphemous. This condemnation intensified the debate over whether Lutfiawati's actions warranted a prison sentence, especially when compared to the comparatively lenient sentences often given in corruption cases.
The verdict has generated a mixed response on Indonesian social media, with some lauding the judge's decision as a strong stance against blasphemy, while others have criticized the jail term as disproportionate. Many have called attention to the inconsistency in sentencing, pointing out that corruption cases often receive lighter penalties.
Human rights groups and activists in Indonesia have long criticized the country's blasphemy laws, arguing that they are frequently misused to target religious minorities. This recent case serves as a reminder of the contentious nature of these laws and their impact on freedom of expression and religious tolerance in Indonesia.
This incident is not the first time Indonesia's blasphemy laws have garnered international attention. Last year, six individuals were arrested after a bar promoted free alcohol, which is prohibited in Islam, for customers named Mohammed. Additionally, in 2017, Jakarta's former governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as Ahok, was sentenced to nearly two years in jail over remarks deemed insulting to Islam.
As Lina Lutfiawati begins her prison term, the debate over the appropriate use and reform of Indonesia's blasphemy laws continues to simmer, sparking conversations about the balance between religious sensitivities and individual freedoms in the diverse nation.
