Human rights advocates criticize the ruling as an infringement of free speech, sparking international concern.
**Indonesian TikToker Sentenced for Alleged Blasphemy in Controversial Ruling**
**Indonesian TikToker Sentenced for Alleged Blasphemy in Controversial Ruling**
Anugrah Rija Nasution/Tribun-Medan.com reported that Ratu Thalisa faced backlash for comments made during a livestream.
An Indonesian TikToker has been handed a nearly three-year prison sentence for allegedly speaking to an image of Jesus during a livestream on TikTok, telling the figure to get a haircut. Ratu Thalisa, a Muslim transgender woman with over 442,000 followers on the platform, made the remarks in response to a viewer's comment suggesting she look more masculine.
On Monday, a court in Medan, Sumatra, convicted Thalisa on charges of spreading hatred under Indonesia's contentious online hate-speech law, sentencing her to two years and ten months behind bars. The court contended that her comments could undermine "public order" and "religious harmony," framing them as blasphemous.
This ruling provoked outrage from human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, which condemned the sentence as a severe violation of freedom of expression. Usman Hamid, Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, issued a statement arguing that while the country needs to combat religious hate speech inciting discrimination or violence, Thalisa's remarks did not meet that threshold for harm. He urged Indonesian authorities to not only overturn her conviction but also to revise the problematic aspects of the Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) law, under which she was prosecuted.
Initially enacted in 2008 and modified in 2016 to address online defamation, the EIT law has faced criticism for potentially infringing on freedom of speech. Between 2019 and 2024, at least 560 individuals were charged under this law while exercising free speech, with 421 resulting in convictions. Among those charged have been several social media influencers.
In other recent cases, a Muslim woman was sentenced to two years in prison for blaspheming Islam after a TikTok video went viral, and another TikToker was detained for asking children about animals reading the Quran. Indonesia is a diverse nation with significant religious minorities, yet the majority population is Muslim, often leading to prosecutions targeting those accused of insulting Islam. Thalisa's case is notably distinct, highlighting a Muslim woman being charged with hate speech against Christianity.
Prosecutors initially sought a sentence exceeding four years for Thalisa and have since appealed the ruling, with the TikToker receiving a week to prepare her own appeal.
On Monday, a court in Medan, Sumatra, convicted Thalisa on charges of spreading hatred under Indonesia's contentious online hate-speech law, sentencing her to two years and ten months behind bars. The court contended that her comments could undermine "public order" and "religious harmony," framing them as blasphemous.
This ruling provoked outrage from human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, which condemned the sentence as a severe violation of freedom of expression. Usman Hamid, Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, issued a statement arguing that while the country needs to combat religious hate speech inciting discrimination or violence, Thalisa's remarks did not meet that threshold for harm. He urged Indonesian authorities to not only overturn her conviction but also to revise the problematic aspects of the Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) law, under which she was prosecuted.
Initially enacted in 2008 and modified in 2016 to address online defamation, the EIT law has faced criticism for potentially infringing on freedom of speech. Between 2019 and 2024, at least 560 individuals were charged under this law while exercising free speech, with 421 resulting in convictions. Among those charged have been several social media influencers.
In other recent cases, a Muslim woman was sentenced to two years in prison for blaspheming Islam after a TikTok video went viral, and another TikToker was detained for asking children about animals reading the Quran. Indonesia is a diverse nation with significant religious minorities, yet the majority population is Muslim, often leading to prosecutions targeting those accused of insulting Islam. Thalisa's case is notably distinct, highlighting a Muslim woman being charged with hate speech against Christianity.
Prosecutors initially sought a sentence exceeding four years for Thalisa and have since appealed the ruling, with the TikToker receiving a week to prepare her own appeal.
