Indonesian police ban gay meeting

Mar 24, 2010, 9:34 GMT

Surabaya, Indonesia - Police in Indonesia's second-largest city said Wednesday that they had banned a planned meeting of gay and transsexual people, citing Muslim opposition.

The regional conference of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Association was scheduled to be held from Wednesday to Friday in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province. It was expected to draw 200 people from 16 countries, but police said they would not issue a permit.

'Based on intelligence reports, there are indications of social unrest, such as protests by Muslim groups in East Java, if the event goes ahead,' said Adjunct Senior Commissioner Sri Setyo Rahayu, Surabaya police spokeswoman.

'We have also received a recommendation from the Indonesian Council of Ulema, which rejects the event because it violates religious teachings and traditional customs,' she said.

Muslim groups expressed opposition to the meeting and warned that there would be demonstrations if it was allowed to be held.

'We will try very hard to stop it,' said Abdussomad Bukhori, the provincial chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulema, the top Muslim clerical authority in Indonesia.

An organizer of the meeting, Poedjiati Tan, said she would lobby local government and religious authorities to allow the conference to go ahead.

'This event is aimed at finding a solution to problems of these minority groups,' she said. 'We will also hold a seminar on health, education, discrimination and other issues.'

In Indonesia, the country with the world's largest Muslim population, homosexuality is not punishable by law. It is, however, largely frowned upon by society although television comedy shows often feature transgender people and effeminate men.