Indonesia’s Military-Cleric Alliance Risks Rising Anti-LGBTQ Sentiment

The Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) is currently preparing a draft bill to criminalise LGBTQ people, aiming to prevent ‘LGBTQ activities’ in public spaces and to counter ‘pro-LGBTQ campaigns’. This legislative push follows President Prabowo Subianto’s Presidential Regulation 111 of 2025, which officially categorizes the “spreading the culture of LGBTQ” as a non-military threat to national defence. While government officials have suggested the regulation is not intended for persecution, the classification provides a new framework for state-sanctioned scrutiny of LGBTQ lives.

Did You Know? Presidential Regulation 111 of 2025 introduced the classification of LGBTQ culture as a “non-military threat,” a category that was not mentioned in the predecessor regulation (8 of 2021) issued by President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo.

MUI Legislative Goals and Defense Policy

The MUI, which is the most authoritative Islamic voice in Indonesia and the strongest religious influence on community attitudes, has long opposed same-sex relations. In 2014, the council issued a fatwa stating that homosexuality is forbidden (haram). During debate over revision of the Criminal Code (KUHP), the organization lobbied for anti-homosexuality provisions, though those efforts were unsuccessful because there was no specific offence criminalising same-sex relations in the Code. The current draft bill represents a more direct attempt to codify these restrictions into law.

The council’s efforts now align with the state’s updated defense policy. Presidential Regulation 111, signed on October 24, 2025, defines non-military threats as unarmed efforts or activities that endanger and threaten the nation’s sovereignty, the territorial integrity of the country, and the safety of the entire nation. By grouping LGBTQ culture alongside “the spread of banned ideologies” and “the spread of atheism,” the regulation allows the state to involve ministries and institutions—including the MUI—in non-military defense strategies.

Political Alliances and Elite Power Dynamics

Analysts observe that the timing of this regulation follows a period of internal elite conflict, specifically after riots in August and September 2025. By adopting a securitized, anti-LGBTQ narrative, the administration may be seeking to re-establish an alliance with conservative Islamic groups that had previously drifted away after 2019. This coalition offers a potential source of political support for an administration facing internal fragmentation.

The regulation also arrives during a period of public speculation regarding the private lives of government figures. In a YouTube video posted on April 30, 2026, politician Amien Rais accused Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya of being gay. While the State Palace has not officially responded, the new defense framework creates a environment where anti-LGBTQ rhetoric can be used to deflect or manage political gossip and criticism.

Expert Insight: The securitization of LGBTQ identity in Indonesia mirrors historical patterns where moral policing is intensified during periods of economic or political instability. By framing specific groups as “non-military threats,” the state creates a mechanism to justify increased surveillance and potential intervention, effectively using marginalized populations as a focal point for political consolidation.

Risks to Public Privacy and Safety

The practical consequences of these policies often fall on people in the middle and lower economies rather than the political elite. Recent events in Bogor, West Java, where vigilantes targeted transgender individuals claiming they were “cleansing” the city of LGBTQ people, illustrate the potential for local violence. Observers suggest that as the state expands its definition of non-military threats, security forces may find broader pretexts to encroach on the privacy of all citizens, not just the LGBTQ community.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the status of the MUI’s anti-LGBTQ bill?
The MUI is currently preparing a draft bill intended to criminalise LGBTQ people, specifically to prevent ‘LGBTQ activities’ in public spaces and to counter ‘pro-LGBTQ campaigns’.

How does the new Presidential Regulation categorize LGBTQ people?
Presidential Regulation 111 of 2025 classifies the “spreading the culture of LGBTQ” as a “non-military threat” to the nation’s sovereignty, the territorial integrity of the country, and the safety of the entire nation.

Has the government commented on the potential for persecution?
Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra has stated that the regulation cannot be used to persecute LGBTQ individuals, though the regulation’s language remains a concern for those labeled as a threat to national defense.

How might the involvement of non-military institutions in state defense policies alter the daily privacy of the average citizen?