JAKARTA, Indonesia – The gay community in conservative, Muslim-majority Indonesia is facing a sudden and unexpected backlash, with ministers and religious leaders denouncing homosexuality, LGBT websites blocked, and emboldened hardliners launching anti-gay raids.
With the rise of anti-LGBT sentiment, Rappler compiles statements by Indonesian officials against homosexuality and their thoughts on LGBT in an attempt to monitor the often misplaced notions shared to the public.
‘Kill them’
“The Holy Prophet said: Whoever does the deed of Luth's followers (homosexuality), kill them and their partners. ~ HR. Ahmad.”
– Tweet from former Minister of Communications and Information Technology Tifatul Sembiring, Friday, February 26
Instant noodles makes babies gay
Tangerang Mayor Arief R Wismansyah said current trends show parents are too busy working that they neglect their children’s nutrition. Parents instead feed their children instant milk and instant food like noodles, which affect their growth, he said, adding: "No wonder lately there are LGBTs."
– Wismansyah at a seminar on Tuesday, February 23
'Modern warfare'
Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu labeled the influence of the gay community "a threat" and said fighting it was akin to "a kind of modern warfare."
He added, "It's dangerous as we can't see who our foes are, but out of the blue everyone is brainwashed."
– Ryacudu on fighting homosexuality, February 2016
No kissing
"Our problem is when they are showing romance, kissing, and making love (in public)... We are not against LGBTs but the activity.”
– Muhammad Nasir, Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education, on Tuesday, January 26
On banning gay emojis from Line, Whatsapp and others
"Such contents are not allowed in Indonesia based on our cultural law and the religious norms and the operators must respect that… Those things might be considered normal in some Western countries, while in Indonesia it's practically impossible.”
– Ismail Cawidu, spokesman for the Communication and Information Ministry, on Friday, February 12
Caning homosexuals
Under an Islamic bylaw, anal sex between men and "the rubbing of body parts between women for stimulation" is outlawed, said provincial sharia chief Syahrizal Abbas.
"The law is to safeguard human dignity. It is to protect Aceh's Muslims from committing immoral acts,"
– Abbas on Thursday, October 22, 2015, the day before the law on caning gay people caught having sex was enacted in Aceh
This page will be updated with further statements. Please let us know in the comments below if you hear of more statements from officials on LGBT. – Rappler.com/with reports from Agence France-Presse
Male Gay Couple Holding Hands image via ShutterStock