The United Nations has condemned the latest crackdown on LGBT people in Indonesia, as well as recent actions in Egypt and Azerbaijan.
Last week over 50 men were detained in Jakarta after a raid at a sauna. Homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, but vague laws relating to pornography as often used to raid establishments and people’s homes. In May, over 100 men were arrested after a similar raid.
The global organisation said the recent actions were abuse of human rights.
“Arresting or detaining people based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity is by definition arbitrary and violates international law,” UN human rights spokesperson Rupert Colville told a news briefing.
Colville also criticised recent actions in Egypt and Azerbaijan. Over 5o people have been arrested recently in Egypt including people who flew a rainbow flag at a concert, and those who posted rainbow flags to social media pages.
At least 10 people have been imprisoned under the crackdown, with sentences ranging from one to six years.
In Azerbaijan, more than 80 lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people have been arrested since mid-September.
The United Nations says it has received allegations that some were subjected to electric shocks, beatings, forced shaving and other forms of humiliation to force them to incriminate themselves before being released, Colville said.
OIP Staff
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