SUMATRA, Indonesia – An Indonesian TikToker has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for blasphemy after making comments about Jesus Christ during a livestream.
Ratu Thalisa, a Muslim transgender woman with over 442,000 followers on the platform, was found guilty of spreading hatred under Indonesia’s controversial online hate-speech laws.
The incident occurred during a livestream in which Thalisa responded to a comment suggesting she cut her hair to look more like a man.
In response, she reportedly “talked” to a picture of Jesus on her phone, telling him to get a haircut.
On Monday, March 10, 2025, a court in Medan, Sumatra, sentenced Thalisa to two years and 10 months in jail, ruling that her comments could disrupt “public order” and “religious harmony.”
The verdict followed complaints filed by multiple Christian groups accusing her of blasphemy.
The sentence has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, which described it as “a shocking attack on Ratu Thalisa’s freedom of expression.”
“The Indonesian authorities should not use the country’s Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) law to punish people for comments made on social media,” said Usman Hamid, Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, in a statement.
Hamid argued that while Indonesia should prohibit advocacy of religious hatred that incites discrimination, hostility, or violence, Thalisa’s comments did not meet that threshold. “Ratu Thalisa’s speech act does not reach that threshold,” he said.
Amnesty International called on Indonesian authorities to overturn Thalisa’s conviction and ensure her immediate release.
The organisation also urged the government to repeal or substantially revise “problematic provisions” in the EIT Law, particularly those criminalising alleged immorality, defamation, and hate speech.
Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, has strict blasphemy laws that have been criticised for stifling freedom of expression and targeting minority groups.
The case has reignited debates about the balance between protecting religious sensitivities and upholding fundamental human rights.
Thalisa’s sentencing highlights the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and social media users in Indonesia, where conservative religious values often clash with progressive ideals.
As the case gains international attention, activists are calling for greater protections for freedom of expression and the rights of marginalised communities in the country.
