75 Arrested At Private Party In Indonesia As Police Crack Down On LGBTQIA+ Gatherings
Another weekend, another raid.
On Sunday, 22 June, police stormed a villa in Puncak, near Bogor, Indonesia, arresting 75 people in what they described as a “gay party.” Among those arrested were 74 men and one woman. The venue was privately rented, and the gathering, according to Amnesty International, violated no laws.
Despite that, everyone present was taken to the Bogor Police Headquarters for questioning. Authorities reportedly collected items like condoms, sex toys, and even a decorative sword used in a dance performance — none of which are illegal. Health checks and HIV tests were also conducted, raising concerns about discrimination and forced medical procedures.
Amnesty slams police for human rights breach
Amnesty International Indonesia has strongly condemned the raid. “This discriminatory raid on a privately rented villa is a blatant violation of human rights and privacy,” said Wirya Adiwena, the group’s Deputy Director. He called on police to immediately release those arrested and criticised the pattern of hostility towards LGBTQIA+ people in the country.
Adiwena added that “no one should be subjected to arrest, intimidation or public shaming” because of their sexuality or gender identity, and demanded that the government hold police accountable for these repeated abuses.
This isn’t the first time…
This is not an isolated incident. Just last month, on 24 May, nine people were arrested at a similar gathering in South Jakarta. In February, 56 people were detained in another hotel raid. In each case, authorities cited “gay activity” as justification, but offered little in terms of real evidence or due process.
These repeated raids reflect a growing climate of fear, targeting LGBTQIA+ individuals under the guise of public morality.
The legal basis for these arrests falls under Indonesia’s Pornography Law, which has a deliberately vague definition of what constitutes pornographic activity. It includes acts that supposedly go against “community morality,” a phrase that leaves wide room for interpretation. Critics say the law is often used to criminalise consensual same-sex activity and strip people of their right to privacy.
