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๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ Indonesia /Elections & Politics

MUI: August Carnivals Should Not Become LGBT Campaign Platforms

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • MUI's Deputy Secretary of the Fatwa Commission, KH Muiz Ali, urged that Indonesian Independence Day carnivals should uphold religious norms and public order.
  • Participants are prohibited from wearing attire that imitates the opposite gender, which is considered 'tasyabbuh' and is forbidden in Islam.
  • The MUI official warned against using carnivals as a platform to campaign for LGBT practices, citing past occurrences.

A senior official from Indonesia's top Islamic clerical body has cautioned against the misuse of national celebration carnivals, particularly those held for Independence Day.

Carnivals that are usually held during the August momentum or other celebrations should, as much as possible, not disrupt the highway.

โ€” KH Muiz AliDeputy Secretary of the MUI's Fatwa Commission, speaking about the organization of Independence Day carnivals.

KH Muiz Ali, Deputy Secretary of the MUI's Fatwa Commission, stressed that these public events must adhere to religious values and maintain public order. He specifically warned participants against wearing clothing that imitates the opposite gender, a practice known as 'tasyabbuh' which is forbidden in Islam. Ali cited a Hadith from Prophet Muhammad, stating that those who imitate the opposite gender are cursed.

Participants in the carnival are also not allowed to dress or wear clothing that leads to tasyabbuh (imitating) between genders.

โ€” KH Muiz AliDeputy Secretary of the MUI's Fatwa Commission, explaining restrictions on carnival attire.

Ali further elaborated that such cross-dressing, whether in private or public spaces, is considered haram (forbidden) and can be seen as promoting LGBT practices, which he stated are prohibited by religion and rejected by the majority of people. He noted that in previous years, Independence Day carnivals have unfortunately been used as a platform to campaign for LGBT rights, a phenomenon he claims is not fabricated.

Using clothing that is specifically a man's characteristic by a woman or vice versa, whether in private or public spaces, is forbidden by law and tends to campaign for LGBT practices which are forbidden by religion and rejected by the majority of normal humans.

โ€” KH Muiz AliDeputy Secretary of the MUI's Fatwa Commission, explaining the religious prohibition against cross-dressing and its connection to LGBT practices.

Beyond the dress code, Ali also reminded organizers to ensure that the carnivals do not disrupt traffic or other public activities. He emphasized that Indonesia's independence is a blessing to be celebrated through unity, prayer, and beneficial activities for the nation.

So, there is indeed a social phenomenon during the carnival. I am not making it up.

โ€” KH Muiz AliDeputy Secretary of the MUI's Fatwa Commission, responding to claims about LGBT campaigning during carnivals.
DistantNews Editorial

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