The Ulema Council declares queer people "haram"

On 17 February 2016, Ma'ruf Amin faced the press in Jakarta. He was chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council, MUI, the most influential body of Islamic scholars in the country with the world's largest Muslim population. Beside him sat representatives of other Muslim organisations. The message was unmistakable: lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people and their activities were "haram", that is, forbidden under Islamic law.

The council invoked the state ideology Pancasila, the constitution and the 1974 Marriage Law. Amin also claimed that queer people spread dangerous diseases such as HIV. Above all, though, the MUI demanded a law from the government against "LGBT campaigns". "We want a strict ban," Amin said.

The debate had been triggered by a small student group. At Universitas Indonesia, it offered counselling to queer students. In January, Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir declared that such groups had no place at universities. After that, events came thick and fast. A department head at the Health Ministry called homosexuality a mental disorder on television. A few days later, the defence minister spoke of modern warfare.

The MUI's statement gave this wave religious weight. A nationwide ban did not materialise, but the climate tipped. Police and authorities cracked down ever harder, and many of those affected went into hiding. In 2017 alone, according to Human Rights Watch, police arrested at least 300 queer people, more than ever before. They raided saunas, nightclubs, hotel rooms and private homes.

And Ma'ruf Amin? The cleric made a political career. From 2019 to 2024 he was Vice President of Indonesia.