① Woman faces prison time for eating pork rinds
Only six religions – Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism – are recognized in Indonesia. The majority religion varies by race and island, with nearly 90% of the population practicing Islam. Therefore, the consumption of pork is taboo in Indonesia.
Recently, an Indonesian influencer sparked controversy when she posted a video of herself eating pork on social media.
The TikToker, named Lina Lutfiawati, boasts a following of 2 million people. Lina filmed herself trying a pork rind dish for the first time while vacationing in Bali.
In the video, Lina says ‘Bismillah’ (In Allah’s name) before eating the pork rind dish. ‘Bismillah’ is a Muslim prayer typically recited before meals.
The video quickly went viral, garnering millions of views.
As the video spread, some Muslims began to criticize Lina. While pork is not illegal in Indonesia, reciting an Islamic prayer before consuming a forbidden food is considered disrespectful to the religion.
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the highest Islamic decision-making body in the country, deemed the video blasphemy. Based on this, Indonesian police charged Lina.
The Palembang District Court in South Sumatra sentenced Lina Lutfiawati, charged with blasphemy, to 2 years in prison and a fine of 22 million rupiah (about $1,540). If she fails to pay the fine, 3 months will be added to her prison term.
② Blasphemy charges in Indonesia
There have been several instances of individuals facing punishment for blasphemy in Indonesia. In 2016, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian governor of Jakarta, was sentenced to 2 years in prison over a blasphemy controversy. His offense was advising people not to be fooled by those who were politically exploiting a verse from the Quran, which advises against taking Jews and Christians as leaders.
Last year, a chain of bars in Jakarta, Indonesia, was shut down on charges of blasphemy. The controversy arose when the bar, Holywings, used the name of the Islamic prophet Muhammad for promotional purposes. The bar had advertised that it would offer a free bottle of gin every Thursday to a male customer named Muhammad and a female customer named Maria.
Religious groups protested this action, claiming it was blasphemous. Indonesian police arrested six people connected to the bar on charges of blasphemy.
In Islamic countries, mocking or criticizing Muhammad is considered blasphemy. If found guilty of blasphemy, one can be sentenced to up to 5 years in prison according to the law. If the blasphemy occurs online, the sentence can be up to 10 years.
The Babi Ammo restaurant in Klappa Gading, Indonesia, faced criticism for using pork, forbidden in Islam in traditional Indonesian dishes. Human rights groups argue that these laws are being misused to target religious minorities. They are calling for a revision of the laws related to blasphemy.
③ A new criminal code with a strong Islamic influence
In December last year, the Indonesian parliament passed a new criminal code. The new code represents a significant revision of the country’s century-old Dutch colonial-era code, moving it closer to Islamic law. The new code includes punishments of up to 1 year in prison for extramarital sex and up to 6 months for cohabitation before marriage. However, these crimes are only prosecutable if a spouse, parent, or child files a complaint.
The new law also criminalizes abortion and includes a punishment of up to 3 years in prison for insulting a sitting president. Protests without prior notice are also subject to criminal punishment. The law maintains a provision that can sentence individuals to up to 5 years for practicing a religion other than the six recognized by the Indonesian government. Every citizen of Indonesia must subscribe to one of these six religions. The new code applies to foreigners as well.
Locals have raised their voices against the new code, arguing it suppresses democracy and individual freedom. The hashtag #SemuaBisaKena, meaning ‘it could happen to anyone,’ trended on social media.
Photos of people covering their eyes and mouths, symbolizing the restriction of personal freedom, were posted. Local media and the business sector also oppose the new code, arguing it could negatively affect foreign investment and the tourism industry as it applies to foreigners. The vice chairman of the Indonesian Tourism Industry Committee expressed concerns about potential backlash.
By. Kim Min Jae
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