In a significant ruling that has caught global attention, Indonesian influencer Ratu Thalisa, known as Ratu Entok on TikTok, was sentenced to two years and ten months in prison. Her conviction, which stems from a controversial comment made during a livestream on October 2, 2024, involves charges of blasphemy and inciting hatred under Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) law. The verdict was issued by a court in Medan City, North Sumatra, on March 10, 2025.
During her livestream, where she had an audience of 442,000 viewers, Thalisa was prompted by a viewer to cut her hair to appear more masculine. As a response, she displayed a photograph of Jesus Christ and made a remark interpreted as blasphemous:
“You should not look like a woman. You should cut your hair so that you will look like his father.”
Following the incident, five Christian organizations filed a formal complaint with local authorities, leading to her arrest on October 8. Thalisa faced charges of blasphemy and hate speech against a religion, culminating in a guilty verdict and a nearly three-year prison sentence. She now has a week to appeal this ruling.
Implications of Ratu Thalisa’s Conviction
In the proceedings on Monday, the district court asserted that Thalisa’s comments posed a risk to “public order” and “religious harmony,” resulting in a 34-month prison sentence and a fine of 100,000,000 IDR (approximately £4,711). This decision has sparked widespread condemnation from various advocacy groups, who view it as an infringement on Thalisa’s right to freedom of expression and a misuse of the EIT law.
Usman Hamid, the executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, voiced concerns about the ruling. He emphasized the need for a measured approach in combating religious hatred and stated:
“While Indonesia should prohibit the advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence, Ratu Thalisa’s speech act does not reach that threshold.”
Hamid further criticized the ruling, saying:
“This sentence highlights the increasingly arbitrary and repressive application of Indonesia’s EIT law to violate freedom of expression.”
In light of these developments, Hamid called for the revision of the controversial provisions within the EIT law, which some have criticized for potential misuse against human rights advocates and political dissenters.
As reported by the BBC, the prosecution’s initial request was for a sentence exceeding four years, and they promptly appealed the court’s decision following the verdict.
Understanding Indonesia’s EIT Law
First enacted in 2008 and revised in 2016, the EIT law aims to address issues of online defamation and protect individual rights within the digital space. According to Amnesty International Indonesia, from 2019 to 2024, nearly 560 individuals faced charges under this law, with 421 convicted for allegedly infringing upon freedom of expression.
For instance, in September 2023, Lina Lutfiawati, a Muslim influencer, received a two-year sentence for sharing a TikTok video in which she prayed before consuming pork, an action deemed blasphemous.
Furthermore, there have been other cases that highlight the growing trend of blasphemy accusations in Indonesia. In 2017, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, the first non-Muslim governor of Jakarta in half a century, was sentenced to two years in prison after making controversial remarks about the Quran during his re-election campaign.