Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population in the world and pork is considered, according to Islam, “haram”, i.e. forbidden
Court of Indonesia sentenced a woman this week to two years prison sentence for violating the blasphemy law for posting on TikTok a video in which he says a Muslim prayer and then eats pork.
Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population in the world and pork is considered, according to Islam, “haram”, i.e. forbidden.
Lina Lutfiavati, also known as Lina Mukherjee, who describes herself as a Muslim, according to court documents, posted a TikTok video in March in which she said a prayer, which translates as “in the name of God,” before eating crispy pork chips.
The court in the Indonesian city of Palembang, located on the island of Sumatra, convicted her yesterday of her actions, ruling that she intentionally “disseminated information aimed at inciting hatred or individual/group enmity based on religion,” according to a court document.
The court ordered her to pay a fine of 250 million rupees (about 15,000 euros).
Critics argue that Indonesia’s strict blasphemy laws are being used to undermine the Southeast Asian country’s long-standing reputation for tolerance and multiculturalism.
Lina told reporters after the trial that she was surprised by the verdict.
“I know it was my fault, but I didn’t expect this punishment,” Lina told local news station MetroTV.
Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, said the blasphemy section of the Indonesian law was being misused to target minority groups and dissidents.
“It is inconsistent with Indonesia’s international obligations to respect and protect freedom of thought, conscience and expression of one’s religion or belief, freedom of opinion and expression,” he said.
The blasphemy law has mostly been used against those accused of insulting Islam, including Jakarta’s Christian former governor Basuki “Ahok” Purnama, who in 2017 was sentenced to two years in prison for blasphemy on charges that were widely seen as politically motivated.
Indonesia’s Ulema Council, a top clerical body, argued in court that Lina’s action was blasphemous against Islam, according to a court document.
Source :Skai
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