TikToker jailed in Indonesia for telling Jesus to cut his hair

In Indonesia, a TikTok user named Ratu Thalisa has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for her comments made during a livestream. Ratu, who is a Muslim transgender woman and has a significant following of over 442,000 on TikTok, was responding to a viewer's suggestion that she should cut her hair to appear more masculine. In a light-hearted manner, she addressed a picture of Jesus on her phone, telling him to get a haircut. This seemingly innocent interaction led to serious consequences. A court in Medan, located in Sumatra, found Ratu guilty of spreading hatred under a controversial online hate-speech law, sentencing her to two years and ten months in jail. The court argued that her remarks could disrupt public order and religious harmony, leading to charges of blasphemy against her. The ruling was influenced by multiple complaints filed by Christian groups who felt offended by her comments. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned the court's decision, labeling it as a shocking violation of Ratu Thalisa's freedom of expression. They have called for the ruling to be overturned, emphasizing that the Indonesian authorities should not misuse the Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) law to penalize individuals for their social media comments. Usman Hamid, the Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, stated that while it is essential to prevent the promotion of religious hatred that incites discrimination or violence, Ratu's comments did not meet that threshold. He urged the Indonesian government to reconsider Ratu's conviction and ensure her immediate release. Furthermore, he called for significant revisions to the EIT Law, particularly concerning provisions that criminalize alleged immorality, defamation, and hate speech. The EIT Law was first introduced in 2008 and amended in 2016 to address online defamation issues. However, it has faced widespread criticism from rights groups, media organizations, and legal experts who argue that it poses a threat to freedom of expression. According to Amnesty International, at least 560 individuals were charged with violations of the EIT Law while exercising their freedom of expression between 2019 and 2024, with 421 being convicted. Many of those charged with defamation and hate speech offenses have included social media influencers. In September 2023, a Muslim woman faced legal action for blaspheming Islam after posting a viral TikTok video in which she recited an Islamic phrase before eating pork. In 2024, another TikToker was detained for blasphemy after posting a quiz that asked children which animals could read the Quran. Indonesia is home to various religious minorities, including Buddhists, Christians, and Hindus, but the majority of the population is Muslim. Most cases of individuals found guilty under the EIT Law have involved religious minorities accused of insulting Islam. Ratu Thalisa's case is unique as it involves a Muslim woman accused of hate speech against Christianity. Prosecutors initially sought a sentence of over four years for her, and they have already appealed the court's decision. Ratu has been given seven days to file her own appeal.