By A court in Medan, Sumatra, has sentenced 23-year-old TikToker Ratu Thalisa to two years and ten months in prison for blasphemy after she jokingly told an image of Jesus Christ to “get a haircut” during a livestream. The ruling, delivered on Monday, March 11, 2025, sparked condemnation from human rights groups, who called it a severe infringement on freedom of expression.
The case stemmed from a livestream in which Thalisa engaged with followers about her hairstyle. After a viewer suggested she cut her hair to “look more like a man,” she humorously directed the comment at a digital depiction of Jesus, whose iconic long hair is widely recognized in religious imagery. The exchange, which Thalisa later claimed was lighthearted, drew immediate backlash from Christian groups in Indonesia, prompting them to file formal complaints under the country’s strict blasphemy laws.
Presiding Judge Wahyu Prasetyo stated that Thalisa’s remarks violated Article 156a of Indonesia’s Criminal Code, which prohibits religious defamation, and the Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) Law. The court argued her comments risked “disrupting public order and religious harmony” in the Muslim-majority nation, where 87% of the population practices Islam. Prosecutors had initially sought a harsher sentence of over four years, citing the “viral nature” of the video.
Amnesty International Indonesia swiftly condemned the verdict, calling it a “shocking attack on free speech.” Usman Hamid, the organization’s executive director, emphasized that while Indonesia should curb hate speech inciting violence, Thalisa’s comment did not meet that threshold. “Authorities are weaponizing the EIT Law to punish benign social media activity,” Hamid said, urging lawmakers to revise the legislation and demanding Thalisa’s immediate release.
The case highlights Indonesia’s contentious use of blasphemy laws, which have led to over 120 convictions since 2018. While most cases involve religious minorities accused of insulting Islam, this ruling marks a rare instance of a Christian-led complaint resulting in prosecution. Legal experts note the verdict shows the subjective application of these laws, which critics argue stifle dissent and disproportionately target women and youth in digital spaces.
Thalisa, who has been in custody since her arrest in January 2025, has seven days to appeal the sentence. Her legal team plans to challenge the court’s interpretation of blasphemy, asserting her comment lacked malicious intent. “This sets a dangerous precedent,” said defense attorney Luhut Sirait. “Every casual remark online could now be criminalized.”
For now, Thalisa’s fate rests on the appeals process, leaving the Indonesian judiciary to decide whether to uphold her nearly three-year sentence for blasphemy. The case has drawn global attention, with human rights groups warning of potential implications for democratic freedoms, while others argue the ruling reflects the country’s commitment to maintaining religious harmony.
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