Ratu Thalisa, sentenced to nearly three years in prison, faces backlash from human rights advocates over the controversial application of hate-speech laws.
Indonesian TikToker Sentenced for Blasphemy After Jesus Haircut Remarks
Indonesian TikToker Sentenced for Blasphemy After Jesus Haircut Remarks
A court ruling against a transgender TikToker raises significant concerns for freedom of expression in Indonesia.
In a deeply controversial ruling that has sparked outrage among human rights groups, Indonesian TikToker Ratu Thalisa has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for allegedly engaging in blasphemy. The case centers on a livestream in which the Muslim transgender woman, who boasts over 442,000 followers on TikTok, responded to a comment about her hairstyle, jokingly suggesting that Jesus should cut his hair.
On Monday, the Medan court found Thalisa guilty of violating Indonesia's contentious Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) law, which is often critiqued for suppressing free speech. The court's decision was announced following complaints from several Christian organizations that claimed her remarks could incite public disorder and disrupt religious harmony. As a result, she received a sentence of two years and ten months in jail.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned the verdict as a blatant violation of Thalisa's freedom of expression. The Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, emphasized that while laws against promoting religious hatred are essential, Thalisa's comments did not meet the threshold for such offenses. He urged the Indonesian government to annul her conviction and called for amendments to the EIT Law, which he described as problematic for its broad application against alleged immorality and hate speech.
The EIT Law was introduced in 2008 and amended in 2016 to tackle online defamation issues. Nevertheless, it has drawn significant criticism from press and rights organizations that highlight the law's role in curtailing free speech. In the past few years, over 500 people have faced charges under this law while exercising their rights to expression, with many being convicted. Notably, the vast majority of EIT Law violations have involved Muslim individuals accused of insulting Islamic tenets.
Thalisa's case is notably rare, as it involves a Muslim woman targeted for remarks perceived as offensive to Christianity. Previous instances have featured severe penalties for blasphemy against Islam, including a recent case in which a Muslim woman was sentenced for making a controversial TikTok about pork consumption. Thalisa’s prosecution also stands out against a backdrop of rising tensions toward religious minorities in Indonesian society.
The ruling has been met with swift reactions, leading prosecutors to initially push for a harsher penalty of over four years. Her defense team has been granted seven days to file an appeal.
On Monday, the Medan court found Thalisa guilty of violating Indonesia's contentious Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) law, which is often critiqued for suppressing free speech. The court's decision was announced following complaints from several Christian organizations that claimed her remarks could incite public disorder and disrupt religious harmony. As a result, she received a sentence of two years and ten months in jail.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned the verdict as a blatant violation of Thalisa's freedom of expression. The Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, emphasized that while laws against promoting religious hatred are essential, Thalisa's comments did not meet the threshold for such offenses. He urged the Indonesian government to annul her conviction and called for amendments to the EIT Law, which he described as problematic for its broad application against alleged immorality and hate speech.
The EIT Law was introduced in 2008 and amended in 2016 to tackle online defamation issues. Nevertheless, it has drawn significant criticism from press and rights organizations that highlight the law's role in curtailing free speech. In the past few years, over 500 people have faced charges under this law while exercising their rights to expression, with many being convicted. Notably, the vast majority of EIT Law violations have involved Muslim individuals accused of insulting Islamic tenets.
Thalisa's case is notably rare, as it involves a Muslim woman targeted for remarks perceived as offensive to Christianity. Previous instances have featured severe penalties for blasphemy against Islam, including a recent case in which a Muslim woman was sentenced for making a controversial TikTok about pork consumption. Thalisa’s prosecution also stands out against a backdrop of rising tensions toward religious minorities in Indonesian society.
The ruling has been met with swift reactions, leading prosecutors to initially push for a harsher penalty of over four years. Her defense team has been granted seven days to file an appeal.
