An Indonesian court sentenced Ratu Thalisa, a transgender woman, to two years and ten months in prison for an online remark about Jesus’ hair, drawing condemnation from rights groups who call the punishment excessive. Thalisa, who sold beauty products and identified as Muslim, made the comment during a TikTok livestream in October, addressing a suggestion to cut her hair. Prosecutors appealed for a longer sentence, while rights organizations like Amnesty International criticized the hate-speech law as vague and misused against religious minorities. The case highlights rising intolerance in Indonesia and the challenges faced by its diverse religious communities.
Medan:
A court in Indonesia has sentenced a transgender woman to over two years in prison for a social media comment regarding Jesus’ hairstyle, according to a local official. Rights groups have criticized the sentence as overly harsh.
Ratu Thalisa was convicted in a Medan court, located on the western island of Sumatra, for inciting hatred under a controversial online hate-speech law during a TikTok livestream, as confirmed by Dapot Dariarma from the local prosecutor’s office to AFP.
The judge, as detailed in court records, imposed a sentence of two years and 10 months on the woman, who identifies as Muslim.
During the livestream held in October, Ratu Thalisa was allegedly seen speaking to an image of Jesus on her smartphone, suggesting he should trim his long hair.
Ratu Thalisa, a seller of beauty products online, was reportedly responding to a comment suggesting she cut her hair to avoid a more feminine appearance.
Advocacy groups, which have criticized the electronic information law as vague and subject to abuse against religious minorities, are calling for the sentence to be overturned.
“This prison sentence represents a disturbing violation of Ratu Thalisa’s freedom of expression,” stated Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia.
“While Indonesia should take measures against the promotion of religious hatred that leads to discrimination, hostility, or violence, Ratu Thalisa’s comments do not meet that criterion.”
Prosecutors have lodged an appeal against Monday’s ruling, which was less severe than their request for a sentence exceeding four years. Ratu has one week to consider whether to file her own appeal.
Indonesia, home to approximately 280 million people, has a diverse population including significant religious minorities such as Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists, who have faced hostility from radical Islamist factions amid rising intolerance.
However, the same law has been increasingly utilized by religious minorities to file complaints regarding perceived transgressions.
In 2022, former minister of sports and youth Roy Suryo received a nine-month prison sentence after being found guilty of hate speech for retweeting images of then-President Joko Widodo’s face over a Buddhist statue.
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