Premium Content:

Indonesia arrests over 140 men at a 'gay party'

Indonesian police have raided a gay sauna in the capital of Jakarta and detained 141 men for questioning.

- Advertisement -

The arrests over the weekend come the day before two gay men in the Aceh province are scheduled to be caned for having gay sex. Human rights groups have been campaigning for Indonesia President Joko Widodo to intervene.

Police say they raised a party called ‘The Wild One’ which was being held at a Gym and Sauna facility in Jakarta’s north.

Police spokesperson Agus Yuwono confirmed that 141 men, including the owner and several performers, had been detained for questioning and could be charged under Indonesia’s pornography laws.

Homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia but recent crackdowns have cited the country’s strict laws about pornography.

Images of the men being detained were posted to social media earlier today.

Earlier this month fourteen men were arrested by police and forced to take HIV tests after police raided a part in a hotel room in Surabaya.

Among those arrested in the Jakarta raids were a British and Singaporean citizen. Police say those attending the party had paid around AUD$14 to attend.

“There were gay people who were caught strip-teasing and masturbating in the scene,” the police spokesman told BBC Indonesia.

Under Indonesia’s ambiguously worded pornography laws, performing a strip tease could potentially be classed as pornography.

The latest raid is a growing number of incidents in Indonesia that shows a growing level of intolerance towards the nation’s LGBTI community.

In 2016 two men were arrested after a photo of the embracing while being shirtless appeared on Facebook. Like the cases in Jakarta and Surabaya the men were charged with creating pornography.

It has also been highlighted that there is substantial bias against LGBT people in the country’s media.

Latest

Oslo Pride shooter will appeal conviction and 30-year jail sentence

Zaniar Matapour was convicted earlier this month of a long list of crimes including murder and terrorism offences.

On This Gay Day: The acronym AIDS is proposed in Washington

In 1982 experts gathered to work out a name for an illness they were struggling to define.

Janice Robinson creates stunning new version of 90’s hit ‘Dreamer’

Livin' Joy's euphoric tune is given a soulful makeover.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Oslo Pride shooter will appeal conviction and 30-year jail sentence

Zaniar Matapour was convicted earlier this month of a long list of crimes including murder and terrorism offences.

On This Gay Day: The acronym AIDS is proposed in Washington

In 1982 experts gathered to work out a name for an illness they were struggling to define.

Janice Robinson creates stunning new version of 90’s hit ‘Dreamer’

Livin' Joy's euphoric tune is given a soulful makeover.

Sapphic Disco is back at The Rechabite this weekend!

They're back! Sapphic Disco is pulling up for another round at The Rechabite this Saturday night.

Oslo Pride shooter will appeal conviction and 30-year jail sentence

Zaniar Matapour was convicted earlier this month of a long list of crimes including murder and terrorism offences.

On This Gay Day: The acronym AIDS is proposed in Washington

In 1982 experts gathered to work out a name for an illness they were struggling to define.