The latest indication of growing pressure on the LGBT community in Indonesia from religious conservatives is the cancellation of a Southeast Asian LGBT event after organizers received security threats.
The organizers of a Southeast Asian LGBT event in Indonesia have canceled it after receiving security threats, the latest example of escalating pressure on the minority from religious conservatives in the nation.
Homosexuality is frowned upon in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, despite the fact that it is not illegal except in the Sharia-ruled Aceh province.
Other LGBT-related events in Indonesia have also been canceled due to complaints from Islamic groups. The US canceled a visit by its LGBT special envoy in December after an influential Catholic organization condemned the visit.
The ‘ASEAN Queer Activism Week’ was planned to begin on July 17 in Jakarta, bringing activists from throughout Southeast Asia together to discuss activism and negotiating hurdles. It was organized by the Philippines-based rights group ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, as well as Arus Pelangi and other activists from Indonesia.
However, the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus announced that the event has been relocated outside of Indonesia to ensure the safety and security of both the participants and the organizer.
“The organizers of the ASEAN Queer Advocacy Week decided to relocate the program’s venue outside of Indonesia after receiving a series of security threats from various groups”, the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus said late Tuesday in a statement.
It also mentioned a wave of anti-LGBT sentiments on social media.
Due to security concerns, the organizers did not reveal the alternative venue.
The event has also garnered attention as Indonesia holds a regional meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers this week, prompting some anti-LGBT groups to ask whether the event was related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathering.
The event had nothing to do with the regional bloc, according to Indonesia’s foreign ministry.
The LGBT gathering was criticized both online and by Islamic organizations.
“The government must not grant permission for an event that contradicts religious values in Indonesia”, said Anwar Abbas of the Indonesian Ulema Council, a significant Islamic clerical group.
“Thus, we warn and urge the government not to give a permit for the event”, Abbas added.
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