LGBT in Indonesia tortured for having same sex relationship

 man being whipped for having same-sex relations in Banda Aceh, Indonesia on 23 May 2017.

An unprecedented wave of police raids, vigilante attacks, and calls for the criminalization of homosexual sex have left many in the country's LGBT community fearing for their safety.

The world's largest Muslim democracy, Indonesia is often considered something of a bulwark of tolerance amid growing conservatism elsewhere in the Islamic world.

But that perception is now shifting, amid increasing verbal attacks on minority groups and the growing implementation of Islamic bylaws by regional governments.

In less than two weeks, two young men were seized by vigilantes who burst into their home in Aceh province, then taken to authorities who caned them for having homosexual sex.

In a separate incident, later in the month, attendees at an alleged gay party in a Jakarta sauna were arrested and images of their faces were disseminated online by Indonesian police.

Homosexual sex is not illegal in the majority of Indonesia, except in the extremely conservative province of Aceh. Jakarta is not part of any province; it is controlled by the central government.

One week ago, West Java Police Chief Anton Charliyan announced that he would create a special taskforce to crack down on LGBT people.

"They will face the law and heavy social sanctions. They will not be accepted by society," he said.

Despite being a Muslim-majority country, only small parts of Indonesia  such as Aceh province  follow strict Islamic law.

Same-sex relations have never been illegal either, even if a 2013 Pew survey found that 93% of the country refused to accept homosexuality.

Syahmenan said the battle over the gay Indonesians' rights was about reaffirming "Indonesian norms and values," adding legal same-sex relations were a relic of colonial rule. 

He said gay and lesbian people are a danger to the future of Indonesia. "Look at the children, they like to imitate or copy what the adults do. If they see free sex practices or LGBT, they may think that the practices are something fun and cool," he said.

 

Despite the current situation, Jonta still believes the future could be bright for Indonesia's LGBT citizens. "I have this willingness to continue to fight for a better Indonesia.

To fight for inclusiveness, Of course it will be more difficult for us to continue the work of human rights," he said.

"We are getting oppressed, even our social media and our websites ... but I would say I'm still optimistic."

CNN's Kathy Quiano and Rudy Madanir contributed to this story.