Islamic activists in Indonesia are pushing for the country’s Constitutional Court to implement laws criminalizing gay sex. Under current laws, homosexual and heterosexual sex is illegal if it involves a minor.

Although Indonesia is in theory one of the more moderate Muslim states, in a 2013 global survey, 93 percent of Indonesians said that homosexuality should be outlawed. In 2014 we reported that in Aceh, one of the country’s most orthodox provinces, gay sex is punishable with 100 lashes.

Anti-gay rhetoric has increased in recent months: homosexuality is worse than nuclear war, LGBT people are mentally ill, gay emojis corrupt impressionable youth, homosexuality is part of an evil global agenda.

https://twitter.com/TitsalinaFutbuk/status/761188804866760705

Now, according to Islamic activist group the Family Love Alliance (FLA), homosexuality is causing “moral degradation” in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.

Rita Hendrawaty Soebagio, chairwoman of FLA, told Bangkok Post “We see the moral degradation that is happening. [Our actions] purely because of our love for our nation, we must do something while we have a chance.”

She added:

“The real reason is so that we have much clearer norms. We are not intending to criminalize those who have a deviant sexual orientation. That is not the point. They can be free to live but not show their lifestyle.”

FLA has filed a judicial review. The Constitutional Court has held five hearings, including one last week. These hearings included testimony from health experts claiming that gay sex can cause sexually transmitted diseases.

The next hearing is due later this month. It is expected that groups and individuals opposed to criminalizing gay sex will testify. However, it is not yet known when a ruling will be handed down.

Watch a report detailing attacks on the transgender community in Indonesia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfZchGhq_40