Jordan Hirst – Police in Indonesia have arrested 56 men at a private event in a Jakarta hotel which police described as a "gay sex party."

Homosexuality is not against the law in most parts of Indonesia, including Jakarta. However LGBTQIA+ folk in the predominantly Muslim nation face discrimination and are targeted by police using other laws.

Police raided the party at a South Jakarta hotel where men were meeting privately on Saturday, February 1, Reuters reported.

Officers found condoms and HIV medication at the hotel, where men were meeting "to seek pleasure," a police spokesperson said.

Three of the arrested men accused of organising the event could face serious charges, this time under the country's anti-pornography laws.

If convicted of facilitating so-called "pornography services", they could face prison sentences of up to 15 years.

'Raids like these send a terrifying message'

The latest hotel raid follows authorities shutting down a gay bar in the city on New Year's Eve.

Officers entered Jakarta's Bunker Bar after locals complained and harassed patrons in the venue over queer parties in the nightclub.

Human rights activists have criticised Indonesian authorities for misusing laws to unjustly target LGBTQIA+ communities.

After a previous raid on a "gay party" in 2020, Amnesty International said there was "no legal justification" for targeting men meeting privately.

"Such a gathering would pose no threat to anyone," Amnesty Indonesia's Usman Hamid said in 2020.

"The authorities are being discriminatory and violating the human rights to privacy and family life, freedom of expression, and the freedom of assembly and association.

"Raids like these send a terrifying message to LGBTI people.

"No one should be targeted and arrested because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. The police should be keeping everyone safe, not stoking more discrimination."

Source: https://qnews.com.au/indonesia-police-arrest-56-in-gay-sex-party-raid-in-jakarta