Indonesian TikToker Sentenced to Jail for Blasphemy Over Jesus Haircut Comment

A TikToker in Indonesia, Ratu Thalisa, has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for allegedly inciting hate during a livestream when she spoke to a picture of Jesus on her phone, jokingly urging him to cut his hair. The 30-year-old, who is a Muslim transgender woman and has over 442,000 followers on the platform, was convicted of spreading hatred under the contentious Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) Law. The court's decision came after complaints from Christian groups, who argued that her remarks threatened public order and religious harmony. Facing backlash from human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, which labeled the ruling an affront to freedom of expression, calls for the conviction to be overturned have intensified. According to activists, while laws against hatred in Indonesia are necessary, Ratu Thalisa's comments did not cross the line into incitement or violence. Her case highlights the broader issue of online speech restrictions in the country, where criticism of prominent religious figures can lead to severe consequences. Ratu Thalisa's legal team has until the end of the week to appeal the court's decision, as the public watches closely for developments in this significant case.

In a country with a predominantly Muslim population, the application of the EIT Law has often disproportionately affected religious minorities, especially with regards to perceived insults against Islam. Ratu Thalisa's conviction, however, marks an unusual case involving offensive speech directed at Christianity, raising questions about the future of freedom of expression and religious dialogue in Indonesia.