Indonesia mulls criminalising gay sex

An Indonesian group calling itself the Family Love Alliance wants to expand homosexual laws, to criminalise sex acts between adults of the same gender.

A man walks past an anti-LGBT banner in Jakarta

An Indonesian group wants to criminalise sexual activity between adults of the same gender. (AAP)

Indonesia's Constitutional Court is considering whether to make gay sex a crime after accepting a judicial review petition from Islamic activists.

A group calling itself the Family Love Alliance says an existing law that criminalises sex between adults and minors of the same gender, and which mandates prison sentences of up to 15 years, should be amended to also apply to sexual acts between adults of the same gender.

Rita Hendrawaty, chairwoman of the group, said on Wednesday it was not trying to criminalise lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

"The real reason is so that we have much clearer norms," she said.

"We are not intending to criminalise those who have deviant sexual orientation. That is not the point. They can be free to live but do not show what is their lifestyle."

Indonesia's image for tolerance and moderation has been tested this year by a campaign of denigration against LGBT people involving conservative politicians, mainstream Muslim groups, professional associations and media organisations.

Homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, but LGBT people can face stigma and discrimination.

Criminalising sexual activity between consenting adults would be a major backward step for human rights in the country.

Experts presented by the anti-LGBT group at a hearing on Tuesday testified that homosexuality was inherently immoral and went against Indonesia's state ideology.

Later this month, groups and individuals opposed to criminalising gay sex will testify.

The Family Love Alliance also wants the nine-judge court to expand adultery laws to include unmarried people and for the definition of rape to be gender neutral.

Currently the law defines rape as an act by a man against a woman.


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Source: AAP


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