MUI demands criminal penalties for gay party participants, rejects rehabilitation

The Indonesian Council of Ulama (Majelis Ulama Indonesia, MUI) has formally opposed any proposal to rehabilitate individuals involved in same‑sex parties. Vice Chairman KH Cholil Nafis said that rehabilitation does not provide a sufficient deterrent and could foster permissive attitudes. He urged the creation of regulations that allow strict criminal sanctions against participants and promoters of such behavior, arguing that punishment should be at least as severe as that for adultery. The council emphasized that without binding legal provisions, any corrective measures would lack effectiveness.

MUI’s stance reflects its broader view that moral transgressions must be addressed through firm legal action rather than soft‑skill interventions, aiming to reinforce public morality in line with Islamic principles.