Indonesia Will Not Bow To Foreign Pressure Regarding LGBT

Jakarta, 6 Jumadal Awwal 1437/16 February 2016 (MINA) – Indonesia will not bow to foreign pressure in addressing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issue.

“We will not bow to foreign pressure in handling the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issue,” Coordinating Political, legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said when visiting Muhammadiyah office here Monday, Antara News quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Indonesia will not follow Brazil that has legalized same-sex marriage (LGBT) even though Brazil is predominantly Catholic.

“We do not want that. Therefore, we should be concerned about it properly,” the minister said.

LGBT issues could not be ruled out. Therefore, the minister will conduct a number of meetings with various religious institutions, including Muhammadiyah to formulate appropriate policies to address the issue.

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“We should minimize the impact of LGBT people in Indonesia through a policy,” he remarked.

However, in the LGBT community are also Indonesian citizens who should be protected, he said.

Muhammadiyah chairman Haedar Nashir condemned the LGBT behavior. He also stated that the increase in LGBT cannot be protected under human rights.

The government should not worry over foreign pressure in relation to the LGBT issue, Nashir said.

“Every government leader should preserve the sovereignty of the nation,” he remarked.

Earlier, a member of the House of Representatives Commission I Ahmad Zainuddin urged the government to block internet-based applications containing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) themes.

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“The government should be proactive in response to internet-based applications containing LGBT themes,” Ahmad Zainuddin noted in a press release received here Sunday.

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician stated that the government should issue a policy or a campaign on the LGBT ban.

In addition, the lawmaker lauded the Communications and Information Ministrys efforts in response to the publics criticism to LGBT content in smartphone messaging applications, such as Line and WhatsApp.

“It is a matter of morals. WhatsApp and Facebook will place stickers bearing LGBT themes,” he pointed out.

The government should be as concerned about LGBT as other social crises such as pornography and terrorism since it is a threat to the younger generation.

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“LGBT can endanger the generations of mankind. Therefore, all religions should reject LGBT,” he affirmed.

Being LGBT is not a question of freedom and human rights. Freedom still needs rules, and it is limited by other values, such as religion, culture, and public order, Zainuddin stated.

However, Zainuddin also called on the government and society to adopt a humane approach while handling LGBT people as they could be the victims of deviant sexual orientation.

“We should denounce the movement but should think of the LGBT people. We should also treat LGBT people wisely,” he emphasized. (T/P010/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)