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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Crime & Justice

Indonesian minister respects MUI's proposed LGBT criminal code bill, but government has no drafting plans

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, and Immigration, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, stated the government respects the MUI's proposal to draft an LGBT criminal code bill.
  • Mahendra clarified that the government currently has no plans to draft such a bill itself.
  • The MUI is proposing the bill to address what it views as increasingly open same-sex public displays and a lack of specific legal sanctions against LGBT individuals and campaigns.

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, and Immigration Yusril Ihza Mahendra has acknowledged and expressed respect for the Indonesian Ulema Council's (MUI) initiative to draft a bill criminalizing LGBT activities. Mahendra stated that in a democracy, the government respects the right of any organization to channel its aspirations.

However, Mahendra emphasized that the government itself has no current plans to develop such legislation. "Regarding the proposed LGBT Criminal Code Bill, the government to date has no plans to draft such a bill," he said via WhatsApp message on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

That there is a religious organization that is reported to take the initiative to draft the bill, the government respects that initiative.

— Yusril Ihza MahendraIndonesia's Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, and Immigration, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, commented on the MUI's proposal.

The MUI's proposal comes amid a controversial debate surrounding the designation of LGBT issues as a non-military national threat. The council is reportedly working on academic papers and a draft bill to be submitted to the House of Representatives. Muhammad Cholid Nafis, Deputy Chairman of the MUI, believes existing legal instruments do not specifically address criminal penalties for LGBT individuals, citing an increase in public displays of affection between same-sex couples.

Regarding the proposed LGBT Criminal Code Bill, the government to date has no plans to draft such a bill.

— Yusril Ihza MahendraCoordinating Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra clarified the government's stance on drafting an LGBT criminal code bill.

Nafis argued that clear legal regulations are necessary because moral appeals have proven ineffective against the widespread activities and cultural campaigns associated with LGBT movements. He views the proposed bill as a crucial measure to prevent public acceptance of homosexual activities. "Now, law enforcers want to be firm, but there are no rules regarding criminalizing perpetrators and LGBT campaigns," Nafis stated via voice message on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

The MUI's legal and legislative team is currently determining the specific sanctions to be included in the draft. Nafis indicated that the bill would focus on penalizing perpetrators and those campaigning for LGBT rights, rather than criminalizing sexual orientation itself if it remains an internal thought. Sanctions could range from criminal penalties imposed by law enforcement to educational 'ta'zir' punishments decided by a judge. Nafis believes that even if the bill cannot eliminate all deviant behavior, its existence is vital to prevent such activities from being normalized.

Now, law enforcers want to be firm, but there are no rules regarding criminalizing perpetrators and LGBT campaigns.

— Muhammad Cholid NafisMUI Deputy Chairman Muhammad Cholid Nafis explained the need for specific legislation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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