New Straits Times

‘GAY PARTY’

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investigat­ion and raided the place on Sunday,” senior detective Nasriadi said.

Homosexual­ity and gay sex are legal everywhere in Indonesia except in Aceh province, but Nasriadi said 10 of those arrested in the raid here could be charged under anti-pornograph­y laws.

These 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 were being questioned by police as potential witnesses, the detective said.

It is the latest sign of growing hostility towards Indonesia’s small lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgende­r community.

Earlier this month, police detained eight men in Surabaya for allegedly holding a gay party, and they could also be charged under the anti-porn laws.

Last week, an Islamic court in Aceh also sentenced two men to be publicly caned for having gay sex, the first time such a punishment has been handed down for homosexual activities in the conservati­ve province.

The backlash against the homosexual community began in early 2016, and activists believe it was triggered by widespread media coverage of a decision in the United States to legalise samesex marriage. AFP

 ?? AFP PIC ?? Police showing evidence from the raid at a police station in Jakarta yesterday.
AFP PIC Police showing evidence from the raid at a police station in Jakarta yesterday.

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