Amnesty International is calling on the Indonesian government to release 74 men and one woman arrested at what police characterized as a “gay party” on Sunday near the capital city of Jakarta.
“This discriminatory raid on a privately rented villa is a blatant violation of human rights and privacy that exemplifies the hostile environment for LGBTI people in Indonesia,” said Amnesty International Indonesia’s Deputy Director Wirya Adiwena. “This gathering violated no law and posed no threat.”
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Police in the city of Bogor, West Java, confirmed on Monday night that they conducted the raid on a “gay party” at a villa in the Puncak area on June 22.
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Seventy-five individuals, including 74 men and one woman, were detained at the scene.
The local police chief said the raid was carried out following reports of “gay activities” at the location.
Among the “evidence” secured at the villa were “sex toys,” four condoms, and a sword employed in a dance performance.
The party-goers were taken to Bogor Police headquarters, where they were subjected to further examination by cops, including invasive health checks and HIV tests.
As of Tuesday afternoon, police had yet to identify any of those arrested.
It’s the latest in a series of raids on so-called “gay sex parties” in Indonesia, according to the human rights organization.
Police detained nine people following a raid on a “gay sex party” at a hotel in South Jakarta in late May. In February, 56 individuals were detained for participating in “a gay party” in a raid on a different hotel in South Jakarta.
Those arrested could face prison terms of up to 15 years for violating Indonesia’s Pornography Law.
Adopted in 2008, the law defines pornography broadly as encompassing material that contravenes “norms of community morality.”
Ambiguously worded laws on pornography are often exploited to deliberately target LGBTQ+ people, denying them the basic right to privacy and the right to enter into consensual relationships.
In 2022, the government revised its criminal code to ban sex outside of marriage. Unmarried couples caught having sex can be jailed for up to a year, and they’re also banned from living together, which could earn six months in jail. Adultery is also a cause for arrest and imprisonment.
Since same-sex marriage is illegal in Indonesia, all same-sex relations fall outside the law in the country.
“No one should be subjected to arrest, intimidation, or public shaming because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity,” Amnesty International said.
“The Indonesian authorities must end these hate-based and humiliating raids,” and “immediately release all those arrested.
“Indonesia’s government must also take urgent steps to ensure accountability for human rights violations committed by the police, and work toward creating an environment where LGBTI individuals and their allies can live free from fear and harassment,” the organization said.
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