HBTQ-aktivister i Indonesien. (Dita Alangkara / TT / NTB Scanpix)

Indonesisk polis i räd mot hbtq-personer – 50 gripna

Indonesisk polis har gripit över 50 män i en räd mot vad myndigheterna beskriver som ett spa för homosexuella i huvudstaden Jakarta. Åtta utländska män – från Nederländerna, Kina, Thailand, Singapore och Malaysia – greps i insatsen.

Flera av de gripna riskerar nu upp till sex års fängelse i enlighet med landets så kallade pornografi- och prostitutionslagar, skriver Reuters.

En rad räder har genomförts mot gayklubbar i Indonesien det senaste året. Med undantag av den ultrakonservativa Acehprovinsen är homosexualitet inte kriminaliserat och tidigare har landet i stort haft en tolerant hållning till homosexualitet, enligt TT. Men på senare tid har tonläget skärpts och våldet mot sexuella minoriteter har ökat, enligt Human Rights Watch som fördömer utvecklingen i landet.

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Hbtq-frågor i Indonesien
Wikipedia (en)
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Indonesia face legal challenges and prejudices not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Traditional mores disapprove of homosexuality and cross-dressing, which impacts public policy. For example, Indonesian same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for any of the legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples. Indonesia does not have a sodomy law and Indonesia does not currently criminalize private, non-commercial homosexual acts among consenting adults, yet Indonesian law does not protect LGBT community against discrimination and hate crimes. Currently, Indonesia does not recognize same-sex marriage. In July 2015, Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister stated that it is unacceptable in Indonesia, because strongly held religious norms speak strongly against it. The importance in Indonesia for social harmony leads to duties rather than rights to be emphasized, which means that human rights along with LGBT rights are very fragile. Yet, the LGBT community in Indonesia has steadily become more visible and politically active. LGBT people in Indonesia are facing growing hostility and intolerance. In early 2016, LGBT people and activists in Indonesia faced fierce opposition, homophobic attacks, and hate speech, even launched by Indonesian authorities. In February 2016, Human Rights Watch urged the Indonesian government to defend the rights of LGBT people and publicly condemn officials' discriminatory remarks. Coming out to family and friends is seldom carried out by LGBT people in Indonesia, as they are afraid of rejection and social backlash. Nevertheless, there are some rare examples of understanding and acceptance of the family of LGBT persons. In 2017, two young gay men (aged 20 and 23) were sentenced to being caned in front of public in the Aceh province, and 141 men were arrested for a "gay sex party" in the capital city of Indonesia, Jakarta.
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