HOLOPIS.COM, JAKARTA – A senior official from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) said Indonesia has the sovereign right to uphold its own legal, cultural, and religious values in addressing LGBT-related issues, arguing that public policy should be guided by the country’s constitutional principles rather than social norms adopted elsewhere.
The remarks were made by KH Khariri Makmun, deputy chair of MUI’s Da’wah Commission, following discussions on LGBT issues during the 8th Indonesian Islamic Congress (KUII VIII) held in Jakarta from July 24 to 26. During the congress, MUI proposed drafting an academic paper and a bill that would prohibit and criminalize certain LGBT-related conduct and public campaigns.
“Every nation has the right to determine the value system that serves as the foundation of its society and state. No country should be forced to adopt another nation’s values in the name of globalization or changing times,” Khariri said in a written statement, Holopis.com reported, Friday (31/7).
He argued that Indonesia should not view LGBT issues solely through the lens of individual rights, noting that the country is founded on Pancasila, whose first principle is belief in one supreme God.
Digital Era Raises Concerns Over Cultural Influence
Khariri said the rapid flow of information through social media has made it easier for foreign lifestyles and values to spread across national borders, raising concerns about their influence on younger generations.
“In the age of social media, the struggle is no longer over geographical territory but over public consciousness. Digital algorithms recognize no national borders. Values, cultures, and even identities can be promoted extensively to young people through content that constantly appears across platforms,” he said.
He also referred to reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS, and Indonesia’s Ministry of Health, which identify men who have sex with men (MSM) as one of the key populations in HIV prevention efforts.
However, Khariri emphasized that such epidemiological data should not be used to stigmatize individuals.
“What should concern the state is risky sexual behavior that has implications for public health,” he said.
MUI Calls for Further Discussion on Proposed Bill
Khariri said the proposed legislation should be discussed carefully and clarified that the preliminary concept would not criminalize sexual orientation itself.
Instead, he said, sexual orientation should be regarded as a personal condition requiring psychological, social, and religious approaches.
According to Khariri, the proposal would focus on regulating specific acts considered unlawful, including certain sexual offenses, same-sex indecency offenses, sexual harassment, and public campaigns that, in MUI’s view, promote the normalization of such behavior in public spaces and on social media.
He said this distinction is intended to separate a person’s identity from their actions.
“In a state governed by the rule of law, criminal sanctions should target actions, not a person’s identity. This principle is important so that the law does not become a tool of discrimination while continuing to protect the public interest,” he said.
Khariri added that any future legislation should comply with constitutional principles, provide clear legal definitions, avoid ambiguous provisions, and respect citizens’ constitutional rights.
