Indonesia arrests 141 over ‘gay party’

INDONESIAN police have detained 141 men including several foreigners for allegedly taking part in a gay sex party at a sauna, an official said yesterday, the latest sign of a backlash against homosexuals in the Muslim-majority country.

Officers on Sunday raided a building in the capital Jakarta that houses a sauna and a gym, and halted what they said was a sex party promoted as “The Wild One”.

Pictures circulating online showed topless men sitting crammed in a room next to gym equipment after the raid. Police said four foreigners were among those arrested – one Briton, one Singaporean and two Malaysians.

“Our officers did an undercover investigation and raided the place on Sunday,” senior detective Nasriadi, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said.

Homosexuality and gay sex are legal everywhere in Indonesia except in conservative Aceh province, but Nasriadi said that 10 of those arrested in the Jakarta raid could be charged under the country’s tough anti-pornography laws.

The raid is further evidence of growing hostility towards Indonesia’s small lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Since last year, ministers, hardlin- ers and influential Islamic groups have been lining up to publicly denounce homosexuality.

Those who face being charged include the alleged organisers of the event as well as men suspected of being prostitutes and striptease dancers. Those found guilty of breaking the laws face up to 10 years in jail. The other detained men are still being questioned by police as potential witnesses in the case.

Some detainees were yesterday paraded in front of the media at a press conference wearing black masks, while a coalition of legal aid groups condemned the arrests and the mens’ treatment.