A transgender influencer was jailed after a video showed him talking to Jesus’ picture on his phone and making comments.
A Muslim TikTok influencer has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison after making comments about Jesus during a livestream.
The influencer, Ratu Thalisa, faced backlash for her remarks, which some viewed as blasphemous.
Transgender influencer spoke to picture of Jesus on phone and told him to get haircut
Ratu Thalisa, a transgender influencer from Indonesia, was live on TikTok when she responded to a viewer’s suggestion.
The viewer told her to cut her hair to look more masculine. In response, Thalisa pointed to a picture of Jesus on her phone and jokingly said, “You should cut your hair.”
She continued: “You should cut your hair so that you will look like his father.”
This comment sparked outrage among some Christian groups. They felt that her remarks disrespected their faith.
Five Christian organizations filed complaints against Thalisa shortly after the livestream.
Transgender influencer sentenced to three years in prison after her controversial comments about Jesus
On March 11, 2025, a court found Thalisa guilty of spreading hate speech under Indonesia’s laws.
The judge sentenced her to two years and ten months in prison. Additionally, she was fined approximately $5,895.
The court stated that her comments could disrupt public order and religious harmony in the country.
Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim nation, and sensitivity around religious issues is high.
Reactions from Human Rights Groups
Various human rights organizations immediately criticized the sentencing of Ratu Thalisa.
Amnesty International’s Executive Director in Indonesia, Usman Hamid, spoke out against the decision.
He stated that Thalisa’s comments did not incite hatred or violence. Hamid called for the authorities to revise the laws that led to her conviction.
He said: “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.
“This sentence highlights the increasingly arbitrary and repressive application of Indonesia’s EIT law to violate freedom of expression.”
Previous cases of censorship
This case is not unique in Indonesia. In 2023, another influencer, Lina Lutfiawati, received a two-year prison sentence for a TikTok video in which she ate pork after reciting an Islamic prayer.
Such incidents highlight ongoing issues regarding freedom of expression in the country.
Critics have condemned Indonesia for enforcing strict laws on online speech.
Authorities have proposed fines against tech companies that do not remove content deemed offensive by the government.
