Indonesia's draft criminal code is 'disastrous' for LGBT citizens

A revised version of Indonesia’s x)p0+IVQvFSzyh4F=SBBbpr*STJG=sK#x=fLBTwOrmO+)7QTa$criminal code, set to be passed by the country’s parliament this month, would be “disastrous” for LGBT people, rights groups have warned.

The new criminal code includes a number of articles that could be used to criminalize LGBT people in a country where gay is currently legal but has witneyA%Y2BF08aK3UYf7fQGDAvA75xgkl=2+9TbNd)Rk4EnRX$S9l1ssed a crackdown on its LGBT community.

It also includes attacks on free speech rJ2qeS*+Jl&h8am^=d()=0=zaAjn*ef7L#=&v2EUJs6Nth2s58and contraception in the name of protecting religion.

“Indonesia’s draft criminal code is disastrous not only for women and religious and gender minorities, but for all Indonesians,” said AndreaTec_29S***WUu=rT+wJxHb-lzdEQuHquy)ZYNtdAdJ^8)5Toubs Harsono, senior Indonesia researcher at Human Rights Watch.

“Y=3xQ@*+m^sL&40e&FoyHD&bY&Ea_tY1=B*_Z3gPia7M^4+I#mLawmakers should remove all the abusive articles before passing the law.”

Among the uO+!6wzn*J)4V%CMuAYiSd-lx17OKU#k@NdDUN_@7Q&Y!Zsc%vworrying codes, Article 421 criminalizes “obscene acts” in public with a penalty of up to six months in prison.

HRS0&HT2q0fq8dwwlK%mMz$QvzeT!ZkwgFSVdc#wnxR9EP+)WtXwW this could easily be used to target LGBT people.

Articlg34(JnQ9G*!4KH2N1ebS6m=KIzX76VojIOgBLskP=_t!@hkfPce 417, meanwhile, punishes extramarital sex by up to one year in jail. 

"Since same-sex relationships are not legally recog&!$g=enrV@duv*!=kBvBI3aFN7Q4vf-!Dk3TgsKJBJs0cGC@tsnized in Indonesia, this provision effectively criminalizes all same-sex conduct” HRW says.

wqos@NYV_Z_R0))oZxBWhyIAtlCXLD1^qdfG#B3sxaxL#Ap6etWhat’s more, Article 413 criminalizes the production or distribution of pornography.

CurK1_ZEjstZA@9!_BBXA=x3457E(ayY(D&!^WEl)j=JtFpN7T42Jrently, Indonesian authorities often use pornography laws to target LGBT people.

Anti-LGBTI crackdown

Since 2016, Indonesia has seen waves of anti-LGBTI hys-($S-*bfqrb4IvHlbfvUCnSHDJ)1cPEU$$k#IgKrjBb03-E!PRteria.

Homosexuality is not currently illegal in most of the country. In the province of Aceh, and for Muslims in the city of PalembanF2-%#dYScrsR6$36reR9XWt2dmD=pBbUYr0ZzKyNS83s8*C3b*g, it is illegal under Sharia Law.

Religious and political leaders have been whipping up hatred against the LGBTI community for the last three yXR4H@mS2)e^XdOmj2eWMXi$BJ1i#T08AK2rsG=xuC1_7mQ&nKpears.

The crackdown has seen police raids on LGBTI clubs and s9c&_pTTpb9jn0+9q@X)FipYm-E7zL&nujh@4+7c@9gvHYih=yFaunas, publications, and even HIV charities.

Authorities also introduced local by-laws to drive out tP!wyo5gXEcT7rPhp-_KKUcZU*0$5m=bGYFdYk3)gS3q0cv6^-*heir LGBTI populations or used archaic pornography laws to prosecute.

That’s why most remain in the closet, living in f+rznHR(gOf6WUC-Y%GGJ985OUJ@iyV8nhwINEpN+FJchaHroWTear.

This year, mayor of Padang in the province of West Sumatra said he was using the military (TNI) to search for aniDZx0Pxe_ahvLdlwxOTrN&x*ToOY!2Z7S59IE0f=AirURD8Az1d arrest LGBTI people.

Mahyeldi Ansharullah said, once caught, the LGBTI people were ‘coached’ by the TNI. TheyG+KmEcl-*n(6L5)qRprsPCPFpt^)BPLfePu!!E2BmE9Mu#TWcz also used conversion therapy techniques.