Ratu Thalisa, a transgender woman and popular TikToker in Indonesia, has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for comments made during a livestream regarding a picture of Jesus. The court in Medan, North Sumatra, declared her guilty of spreading hatred under a controversial online hate-speech law, which many human rights advocates have criticized as overly broad and subject to misuse. Thalisa, a Muslim, received a sentence of two years and ten months for allegedly inciting hate through her remarks.

During the livestream in October, Ratu was reportedly addressing a comment suggesting she cut her hair to resemble a man. In response, she displayed a picture of Jesus on her phone and told him to "get a haircut." Following this, multiple Christian groups lodged complaints against her, which ultimately led to the legal action. The court mentioned that her comments could disrupt "public order" and "religious harmony" within Indonesian society, framing the incident as blasphemy.

Usman Hamid, the Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, condemned the ruling, describing it as an attack on Thalisa’s freedom of expression. He stated, "While Indonesia should prohibit the advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence, Ratu Thalisa's speech act does not reach that threshold," calling for her conviction to be overturned. Rights organizations have rallied against the implementation of the Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) law, which has been criticized for infringing on individual freedoms since its introduction in 2008.

According to Amnesty International, there have been over 560 individuals charged under the EIT Law for exercising their freedom of expression from 2019 to 2024, with 421 convicted. Ratu's case is particularly notable as it exemplifies the tensions between religious beliefs and freedom of speech in a country home to a multitude of religious minorities, including Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists. Her situation highlights a growing concern regarding rising intolerance in Indonesia and the potential misuse of laws targeting expressions considered blasphemous.

Prosecutors have since appealed the sentencing, having initially requested a more severe punishment exceeding four years. Thalisa has been given seven days to decide whether or not to appeal the ruling. The BBC noted that her case comes amid rising reports of legal actions taken against various individuals for both perceived criticisms of Islam and other religious sentiments.

As discussions continue regarding the balance between free speech and respect for religious sentiments, Thalisa’s case is emblematic of the challenges faced by many in Indonesia amidst a landscape marked by increasing restrictions on freedom of expression.