Indonesian Police Parade Dozens of Arrested Men After Raid on Alleged ‘Gay Sex Party’ in Surabaya Hotel
In a stark display of public shaming amid Indonesia’s ongoing crackdown on LGBTQ+ gatherings, police in Surabaya detained 34 men on October 19, 2025, for allegedly participating in a “gay sex party” at a local hotel. The arrests, part of a broader pattern of raids under the country’s vague pornography laws, have drawn sharp condemnation from human rights groups for violating privacy and fueling discrimination in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.
The Raid and Public Parading
East Java Provincial Police Chief Inspector General Ahmad Fathur Rochim confirmed the operation targeted a private event at an undisclosed hotel in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city. Officers raided the venue around 10 p.m., detaining participants and organizers on suspicion of violating Indonesia’s 2008 Anti-Pornography Law, which broadly prohibits “obscene acts” and can carry penalties of up to 15 years in prison. No specific details on seized evidence were released, but police described the gathering as involving “same-sex activities.”
The following day, the 34 detainees—barefoot, hands bound with zip ties, and dressed only in underwear—were marched through Surabaya’s streets in a televised parade, a tactic critics decry as humiliating and designed to deter similar events. Police spokesperson Senior Commissioner Eddy Wibowo explained the public display was to “demonstrate enforcement,” noting that some arrestees were “participants, financiers, administrators, or assistants.” As of October 23, charges remain pending, with investigations ongoing into potential HIV testing and health checks for the group.
Hotel management distanced itself, claiming ignorance of the event’s nature and expressing dismay over the “unpleasant feedback” tarnishing its reputation. This incident echoes earlier 2025 raids: In June, 75 people (74 men and one woman) were arrested at a “gay party” in Bogor near Jakarta, subjected to HIV tests and held for days. In February and May, similar operations in South Jakarta netted 56 and nine men, respectively, all charged under the same law.
Legal and Social Context: A Taboo Under Siege
Homosexuality isn’t explicitly criminalized nationwide in Indonesia, but the Anti-Pornography Law’s expansive language—banning acts deemed “indecent” or contrary to “morality”—has been weaponized against LGBTQ+ individuals since 2016. In conservative Aceh province, Sharia law imposes public floggings for same-sex relations, as seen in February 2025 when two university students received over 80 lashes. A 2020 Pew survey found 80% of Indonesians view homosexuality as unacceptable, fueling a hostile environment where raids often stem from neighbor complaints or moral policing.
Amnesty International slammed the Surabaya arrests as a “blatant violation of human rights and privacy,” urging immediate release and accountability. “These discriminatory raids exemplify the hostile environment for LGBTI people in Indonesia,” said Deputy Director Wirya Adiwena in a June statement on a similar incident. Human Rights Watch has documented forced HIV testing and public shaming as tools to stigmatize the community, noting a spike in such actions post-2016 anti-LGBT rhetoric from officials.
The raids come amid broader societal tensions: Conservative groups protested Coldplay’s 2023 Jakarta concert over perceived “gay propaganda,” while forced “conversion therapies” disguised as exorcisms persist. For the detained men—many from Jakarta’s tight-knit community—the fallout includes job losses, family estrangement, and mental health strains, per advocacy reports.
Global Reactions and Broader Implications
The parade footage went viral on X, sparking outrage: One post from @AmnestyIndonesia garnered 15K likes, decrying it as “state-sponsored humiliation.” Indonesian netizens split, with some praising the “moral enforcement” and others calling for decriminalization. Internationally, it highlights Indonesia’s duality: A vibrant democracy with progressive pockets (like Jakarta’s annual Pride events) clashing against conservative strongholds.
For everyday Indonesians, especially in urban hubs like Surabaya (population 3 million), the raids underscore deepening divides. Economically, they chill the $1B tourism sector—hotels face boycotts, and LGBTQ+ travelers (a $200B global market) steer clear. Lifestyle impacts hit hard: Private gatherings, once safe havens, now risk exposure, exacerbating isolation in a nation where 5-10% of youth identify as LGBTQ+ (per hidden surveys). Politically, it pressures President Prabowo Subianto’s administration (elected 2024) to balance Islamist alliances with human rights pledges. Technologically, apps like Grindr (used for raids via geolocation) amplify vulnerabilities, prompting calls for digital privacy laws.
As investigations continue, advocates like Arus Pelangi demand repeal of the pornography law’s discriminatory clauses. For now, the Surabaya 34 symbolize a fight for dignity in the shadows—where love, in Indonesia, remains a risky rebellion.
By Sam Michael
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