TikTok star Lina Mukherjee arrested for reciting Islamic prayer before eating pork

Lina Mukherjee said that the TikTok video was filmed when she was in Bali in March, where she was featured trying out babi guling- a food item with rich, pork and different vegetables. (Image credit: Instagram/LinaMukherjee).

TikTok star Lina Mukherjee was arrested after she recited an Islamic prayer on camera before eating pork in Bali, Indonesia, a CNN report said.

Mukherjee has been sentenced to two years in jail and as per court documents, was found guilty of "spreading information aimed at inciting hatred against religious individuals and specific groups,". Additionally, the 33-year-old was also fined $16,245 and a failure to pay the fine could lead to her jail term being increased by three months.

Mukherjee admitted her mistake, but added that she was shocked to have received such a harsh punishment for the error. "I know I was wrong but I really did not expect this punishment," she told CNN Indonesia.

Mukherjee said that the TikTok video was filmed when she was in Bali in March, where she was featured trying out babi guling- a food item with rice, pork and different vegetables. She then spoke into the camera, while eating the pork in the dish.

The video, despite receiving millions of views, was condemned by Indonesian religious groups and led to a public complaint against Mukherjee, who was eventually arrested.

However, she did get support from some Indonesian researchers who said that she had done nothing wrong. "She’s done nothing wrong but it says a lot about (the state of) Indonesia. How a self-proclaimed moderate Muslim country is becoming a radicalized Muslim nation," Human Rights Watch’s Indonesia researcher Andreas Harsono said.

Mukherjee is known for her food and lifestyle videos and has more than two million followers on social media.