TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A number of religious councils has urged the government to ban all forms of support towards Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) activities in Indonesia. They considered that LGBT activities should not be promoted nor supported by the government.
“[We] urge the government of the Republic of Indonesia to ban all forms of funding for the campaign, socialization and support towards LGBT activities in Indonesia,” said the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI)’s Head of Inter-Religious Harmony Division Yusnar Yusuf at MUI Building, Central Jakarta, Thursday, February 18, 2016.
The councils said that the government must be wary of and ban LGBT funding which may not only come from domestic sources, but also from international companies and organizations. The call is made as a form of rejection on LGBT legalization and development efforts in Indonesia. “Without the funding, they would not flourish,” said Yusnar.
Moreover, the association of religious councils said that any form of propaganda, promotion and support towards LGBT legalization and development efforts must be rejected, adding that people must be wary of any movement or intervention of any party under any pretexts, including human rights and democarcy to support LGBT.
“We don’t deny that LGBT exist among the society. But please do it on your own; don’t do it vulgarly,” said Uung Sendjana who is a representative of the Supreme Council for the Confucian Religion in Indonesia (Matakain).
Yesterday, a number of religious councils declared their stance to reject LGBT. They considered LGBT activities as against religious values, as well as the national foundation. The declaration was signed and agreed upon by a number of religious councils, include Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI), Bishop’s Conference of Indonesia (KWI), the Indonesian Buddhist Representative (Walubi), and the Supreme Council for the Confucian Religion in Indonesia (Matakain).
EGI ADYATAMA
