The recent conviction of Ratu Thalisa, a transgender influencer from Indonesia, for making a remark about Jesus Christ’s hair has ignited a firestorm of debate about free speech and human rights in the country. Found guilty of promoting hate speech against Christianity by a Medan court, Thalisa faces 34 months in prison, reflecting the harsh realities of Indonesia’s blasphemy laws.
During a TikTok live stream on October 2, Thalisa, known as Ratu Entok, responded to a viewer’s suggestion that she should shorten her hair to appear more masculine. Holding a picture of Jesus, she provocatively stated, “You [Jesus] should cut your hair [ …],” igniting outrage and leading to her legal downfall.
This event raises alarms among human rights advocates as they fear it signals a tightening grip on freedom of speech in Indonesia. Usman Hamid, Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, condemned the ruling as an “attack on Ratu Thalisa’s freedom of expression,” shedding light on the ongoing struggles faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in an increasingly conservative society.
Indonesian transgender influencer Ratu Thalisa was sentenced to nearly three years for a remark about Jesus’s hair, sparking human rights concerns. The conviction exemplifies broader issues of free speech in Indonesia under strict blasphemy laws, as highlighted by Amnesty International’s criticism of her sentencing.
Ratu Thalisa’s case underscores the fragile state of freedom of expression in Indonesia, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community. Her sentencing highlights the concerning impacts of blasphemy laws on personal freedoms and suggests a growing intolerance that may further threaten individual rights. Human rights advocates continue to call for greater protections against such injustices.
Original Source: www.scmp.com
