AFP today, September 20, quoted a September 19 verdict saying that Lina Mukherjee (33 years old) was convicted of "spreading information to incite hatred against individuals of specific religions and groups" at a trial in Palembang city in Indonesia's South Sumatra province.
The sentence came after a citizen reported Mukherjee in March over a viral TikTok video that has since garnered millions of views. In the video, Mukherjee utters an Islamic prayer that translates to “in the name of God,” then eats crispy pork skin.
Lina Mukherjee says a prayer before eating crispy pork skin in her video
The Straits Times screenshot
Mukherjee identifies as Muslim and her actions have been condemned by conservative groups, with Indonesia's top Muslim clerical body, the Indonesian Ulema Council, calling Mukherjee's video blasphemous.
In addition to the prison sentence, Mukherjee was also fined 250 million IDR (more than 397 million VND) and her prison term will be extended by 3 months if she fails to pay that amount.
This is the latest in a series of blasphemy cases in Indonesia.
Last year, Indonesian police arrested six people on blasphemy charges after a bar chain offered free alcohol to patrons.
Previously, former Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama served nearly two years in prison for a controversial blasphemy charge in 2017.
Mr Purnama, a Christian, was jailed for comments he made during his re-election bid that led to him being accused of insulting Islam, according to AFP.
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