Tobias Basuki, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta, said the police appeared to be formally taking on a role that had previously been held by hard-line Islamist groups. He said that releasing pictures of the shirtless men to local news outlets was “extremely dangerous.”Īnalysts said the arrests in Jakarta were part of enforcement efforts by the police before Ramadan, the monthlong holiday in which observant Muslims fast throughout the day. “It’s very difficult for us to express our sexuality like heterosexuals,” said Hartoyo, the director of Suara Kita, a gay rights advocacy group, who goes by one name. Some people think that they are just a big party, while others believe that. Last week, two men in the northwestern province of Aceh were sentenced under Shariah law to 85 public lashes each for their sexual relationship.īecause of strong social and religious taboos against homosexuality in much of Indonesia, gatherings of gays often take place away from the public eye, like in saunas or at underground parties. Hosting a Boston gay wedding offers same-sex couples a chance to celebrate. Similar police raids and arrests have been reported around the country, including in Jakarta in November, when 13 men were taken into custody after the police were tipped off about what was said to be a gay sex party.
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