Hidayat Nur Wahid Supports 8th Indonesian Islamic Congress Recommendation on LGBT Ban

Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and member of House Commission VIII, Hidayat Nur Wahid, has expressed support for the recommendations of the 8th Indonesian Islamic Congress, which urged the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) to formulate regulations on the prevention and handling of LGBTQ issues. “We certainly support what the Islamic Congress recommended regarding prevention and sanctions against perpetrators and disseminators of LGBTQ propaganda. It is very appropriate that the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and all Islamic mass organisations unanimously recommended this,” Hidayat said when contacted on Monday (26/7).

In the context of prevention, Hidayat continued, it is important that prevention is not only the responsibility of the state but also of every individual. Hidayat quoted the Quran, Surah At-Tahrim verse 6, which instructs believers to protect themselves and their families from the hellfire. According to Hidayat, Islamic mass organisations deeply understand this verse, enabling them to take preventive action through pesantren, madrasah, majelis taklim, and schools. “By carrying out this prevention, there is an effort to save the Muslim generation from the hellfire of this world and the hereafter,” Hidayat said.

Regarding the state’s role, Hidayat stated that the constitution mandates the state to protect the entire Indonesian nation. As a state of law, the recommendations and demands of the Islamic Congress regarding LGBT issues must be constitutionally fulfilled. Hidayat noted that the DPR has already taken steps concerning actions against LGBT, having agreed to revise the Criminal Code (KUHP). A new provision now stipulates punishment for sexual abuse, whether same-sex or opposite-sex. “Of course, LGBT falls under this. This is an expansion of the meaning of adultery from the old KUHP. From this definition, the issue of LGBT has been corrected with a new provision in Article 414 that criminalises same-sex abuse,” he said.

Hidayat also stated that the KUHP revision is supported by a Presidential Regulation which declares LGBT a non-military threat. “I support Prof Yusril’s view that the state combats LGBT through the Presidential Regulation, thus the recommendations from the MUI and the Islamic Congress strengthen the agreement between the DPR and the government regarding the KUHP,” Hidayat said. He emphasised that Indonesia, as a Pancasila state, must be vigilant regarding LGBT issues, noting that the second principle of just and civilised humanity must be based on the first principle of belief in the one and only God. Hidayat also suggested that the MUI engage non-Muslim leaders and organisations to jointly oppose LGBT propaganda. He further supported the creation of regional regulations at the provincial, city, and regency levels to ban LGBT propaganda, and backed the MUI’s preparation of a draft bill on anti-LGBT measures, stating his Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) is ready to champion it in the DPR.