The case has sparked outrage among human rights organizations and raised questions about freedom of expression in Indonesia.
**TikToker Sentenced to Nearly Three Years in Jail for Remarks About Jesus' Haircut**
**TikToker Sentenced to Nearly Three Years in Jail for Remarks About Jesus' Haircut**
An Indonesian influencer faces backlash under a controversial hate-speech law after her social media comments.
In a notable legal development in Indonesia, Ratu Thalisa, a prominent TikToker, has been sentenced to almost three years in prison for allegedly inciting religious hate after making comments about Jesus on a livestream. Thalisa, a Muslim transgender woman with a substantial following of over 442,000, was responding to criticism regarding her hairstyle when she jokingly addressed a picture of Jesus, prompting a court in Medan, Sumatra, to convict her of violating a contentious hate-speech law.
The court's verdict, which imposed a sentence of two years and ten months, was justified on grounds that her light-hearted comments posed a risk to "public order" and could disrupt "religious harmony" within Indonesian society. Following the ruling, various Christian organizations lodged police complaints against Thalisa, accusing her of blasphemy.
Human rights advocates, including Amnesty International, have denounced the court's decision, describing it as a severe infringement on Thalisa's freedom of self-expression. Human rights leaders, including Amnesty International Indonesia's Executive Director Usman Hamid, have called for an immediate reversal of her conviction and for her prompt release from detention. They emphasize that while incitement of hatred against religious beliefs should be impeded, Thalisa's softly-worded comments did not incur any substantial threat.
The Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) law under which Thalisa was prosecuted has faced scrutiny from various quarters. Initially introduced in 2008 and updated in 2016, this law sought to protect online discourse but has been criticized for its vague definitions and potential overreach, which threaten liberties of expression. Between 2019 and 2024, Amnesty reports noted that over 560 people faced charges for alleged breaches of the EIT Law owing to expressions made online, resulting in at least 421 convictions.
Thalisa’s conviction is part of a broader context in Indonesia, where religious harmony is a sensitive issue amid a predominantly Muslim population, alongside a variety of religious minorities. The case draws attention to the tensions between freedom of expression and religious sensitivity in Indonesia and sets a precedent in how social media interactions are linked to rapidly evolving legal frameworks. Prosecutors have indicated their intent to appeal the current ruling with hopes for a more stringent sentence, as Thalisa is granted a week to challenge the decision.
The court's verdict, which imposed a sentence of two years and ten months, was justified on grounds that her light-hearted comments posed a risk to "public order" and could disrupt "religious harmony" within Indonesian society. Following the ruling, various Christian organizations lodged police complaints against Thalisa, accusing her of blasphemy.
Human rights advocates, including Amnesty International, have denounced the court's decision, describing it as a severe infringement on Thalisa's freedom of self-expression. Human rights leaders, including Amnesty International Indonesia's Executive Director Usman Hamid, have called for an immediate reversal of her conviction and for her prompt release from detention. They emphasize that while incitement of hatred against religious beliefs should be impeded, Thalisa's softly-worded comments did not incur any substantial threat.
The Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) law under which Thalisa was prosecuted has faced scrutiny from various quarters. Initially introduced in 2008 and updated in 2016, this law sought to protect online discourse but has been criticized for its vague definitions and potential overreach, which threaten liberties of expression. Between 2019 and 2024, Amnesty reports noted that over 560 people faced charges for alleged breaches of the EIT Law owing to expressions made online, resulting in at least 421 convictions.
Thalisa’s conviction is part of a broader context in Indonesia, where religious harmony is a sensitive issue amid a predominantly Muslim population, alongside a variety of religious minorities. The case draws attention to the tensions between freedom of expression and religious sensitivity in Indonesia and sets a precedent in how social media interactions are linked to rapidly evolving legal frameworks. Prosecutors have indicated their intent to appeal the current ruling with hopes for a more stringent sentence, as Thalisa is granted a week to challenge the decision.
