In brief
Ratu Thalisa's case becomes a focal point for debates on freedom of expression in Indonesia amid ongoing concerns over the EIT Law's impact on online discourse.
An Indonesian TikTok influencer known as Ratu Thalisa has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison after she made a seemingly innocuous remark during a livestream, addressing a comment that suggested she should reduce her hair length to look more masculine. Her response, which involved speaking to a picture of Jesus on her phone and telling him to get a haircut, led to a court ruling of almost three years for spreading hatred, under a contentious online hate speech statute. The court in Medan, Sumatra, determined that Thalisa's words posed a threat to "public order" and "religious harmony," classifying the incident as blasphemy. This conviction arose in light of complaints lodged by various Christian organizations. Human rights advocates, including Amnesty International, have decried the court's ruling as a considerable infringement on Thalisa's freedom of expression. They have called the decision a "shocking attack" and urged Indonesian authorities to rescind it.Usman Hamid, the Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, criticized the application of the Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) law, originally set to protect individual rights in digital spaces. While acknowledging that incitement to hatred should be prohibited, he argued that Thalisa's comments did not reach this threshold and called for her immediate release. He also advocated for significant amendments or the repeal of elements in the EIT Law that criminalize alleged immorality, defamation, and hate speech.Amidst the ongoing scrutiny of the EIT Law, which has seen over 500 charges under its provisions from 2019 to 2024, there has been a disproportionate targeting of cases involving religious minorities. Recent similar incidents include the sentencing of a Muslim woman for blaspheming Islam and another TikToker being detained for a quiz on Quran reading animals.Indonesia, a nation with a diverse religious tapestry, predominantly follows Islam, which has historically resulted in greater scrutiny of expressions perceived as disrespectful toward the faith. However, Ratu Thalisa’s trial, as a Muslim woman accused of making hateful remarks towards Christianity, marks a rare reversal of this trend. Following her sentencing, prosecutors have sought an even harsher penalty of over four years, while Thalisa has been given a week to appeal the ruling.
