Raid in Indonesia: 75 people arrested during gay party!

Raid in Indonesia: 75 people arrested during gay party!

Things have been simmering in Indonesia for a long time, especially when it comes to the rights of the LGBT+ community. On June 22, 2023, police in Bogor raided a private villa and arrested 75 people. The reason for the raid, which was dubbed a “gay party,” was not only “wrong” sexual inclinations, but also the confiscation of condoms, sex toys and a blade described as art supplies. Although those arrested were questioned about their “homosexual activities,” no formal charges were filed, reinforcing the legal gray area facing LGBT+ people in Indonesia. According to Fugues, homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, except in the provinces of Aceh and South Sumatra, where Sharia prohibits same-sex relationships.

The Indonesian authorities are primarily relying on the vague anti-pornography law of 2008 to put pressure on the LGBT+ community. Penalties can be up to 15 years in prison. The number of police raids on private gatherings has been increasing since 2016: two more raids were carried out in 2023, with a total of 65 arrests. A particularly drastic measure occurred in February 2023, when two students in Aceh were publicly flogged for having consensual homosexual relationships.

Human rights violations and international criticism

The human rights organization Amnesty International strongly condemned the arrests in Bogor, calling them a “flagrant violation of human rights and privacy.” Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, called for the immediate release of those arrested and the withdrawal of all charges. Hamid points out that the raid and the incidents happening to other LGBT+ people are part of a larger pattern of discrimination and persecution against LGBT+ people in Indonesia. Also worrying are the discriminatory statements made by lawmakers and religious groups that support these raids, according to [Queeramnesty](https://www.queeramnesty.de/melden/detail/2025/indonesien-lgbti-menschen-muessen-nach-diskriminierender-polizeirazzia-freilassen- Werden).

But the discrimination goes beyond the arrests. In the past, the Indonesian government has excluded certain educational programs by barring people with “deviant sexual behavior” from public sector job offers. Gadjah Mada University also recently caused a stir when the doyen of the Faculty of Engineering banned any mention or behavior regarding LGBT people, sparking protests. The LGBT+ movement is therefore facing an increasingly hostile climate, characterized by a wide range of repressive laws and social stigmatization.

A worrying trend

The current situation of the LGBT+ community in Indonesia is characterized by fear and repressive measures. According to Wikipedia, military and political leaders have even spread conspiracy theories against the LGBT+ movement. Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu described the activities as “weapons of the Western world,” showing that state rhetoric against LGBT+ people continues to intensify.

In May 2024, a law was proposed that could severely restrict the distribution of LGBT+ content in the media, which could further change the tone of policy discussions on sexual orientation in the country. As the international community raises awareness of these human rights violations, the central question remains: How long will LGBT+ people in Indonesia have to live in these conditions?