An Indonesian transgender Muslim influencer, Ratu Thalisa, received a two-year prison sentence plus a $6,200 fine after criticizing Jesus’ hairstyle in a TikTok live stream. During the broadcast, she compared her gender identity to religious figures, saying Jesus “should cut his hair” to look masculine. Five Christian groups reported her for blasphemy under Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) Law, which criminalizes speech deemed disruptive to public order or religious harmony.
Amnesty International condemned the ruling as a violation of free expression, noting Thalisa’s comments did not incite violence or discrimination. The rights group highlighted that over 560 people faced EIT charges since 2019 for offenses like defamation and hate speech, warning of “arbitrary” law enforcement against minorities.
Thalisa’s case follows a trend of blasphemy convictions in Indonesia, where conservative religious sentiment has surged. Notable cases include former Jakarta governor Ahok (jailed in 2017) and influencer Lina Mukherjee (sentenced in 2023). With 93% of adults identifying as Muslim, critics argue blasphemy laws increasingly target those perceived as insulting Islam or other religions.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/11/asia/ratu-thalisa-blasphemy-indonesia-scli-intl/index.html