Indonesia: Rally for Chief Who Detained 12 Transgender Women

More than 100 people rallied in Indonesia’s Aceh province Friday in support of the police chief who sought permission from Islamic scholars before raiding five beauty salons and detaining 12 transgender people last weekend.

The rally following Friday prayers came days after national Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian ordered an investigation into the raids, according to a Human Rights Watch statement.

Aceh Gov. Irwandi Yusuf and several other senior officials spoke at the rally outside the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in support of North Aceh Regency Police Chief Ahmad Untung Surianata, also known as Untung Sangaji.

The detainees were released Monday after officers cut their hair, made them them put on men’s clothing and had them chant loudly to bring out their male voices.

“We do not hate LGBT people, but what we hate is their behavior,” Yusuf said at the rally. “We cannot blame the actions of the North Aceh police.”

The detainees were held to “be coached back as real men,” before being released Monday night.

Full story: BenarNews

Nurdin Hasan
Banda Aceh, Indonesia