Indonesia's MUI drafts criminal law bill targeting LGBT

The Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) is preparing an academic paper and a draft criminal law (RUU) aimed at penalising LGBT activities. Deputy Chairman KH Cholil Nafis said moral appeals are no longer effective and that legislation is needed to curb what he described as "sexual deviance" displayed publicly. He told reporters, "Demi cinta kami kepada kemanusiaan yang hakiki, kami ajak mereka kembali pada fitrahnya. Kami siapkan naskah akademik dan RUU pidananya, tinggal DPR membahas dan menetapkannya." The proposed bill would not criminalise sexual orientation itself, but would target actions and promotion, with penalties ranging up to ta'zir and possible imprisonment. Nafis cited the 2014 MUI Fatwa No. 57, which declares same‑sex relations haram, as the religious basis for the draft. The MUI hopes to push the draft into the national legislation programme for debate in the Indonesian parliament.