A provincial administration in Indonesia says it is preparing to issuing a regulation to restrict LGBTI movement.

The administration of Depok in West Java says the regulations are in order as LGBTI influence is becoming more common in the area.

‘[We will make it] to overcome these social deviancy. This mayoral regulation will be an effective regulatory step to block the LGBT [community],’ said Depok Mayor Mohammad Idris.

However, the mayor also said that such a legislation would require legal consent from the Indonesian government.

‘It will be pointless challenging our regulation if there is already a government regulation on it. At least there should be a presidential regulation that can be the legal basis for the regional regulation of LGBT,’ Idris said according to The Jakarta Post.

Clampdown on the LGBTI community

The Depok administration’s announcement is yet another call for clampdowns on the LGBTI community in Indonesia.

While homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, the country has seen an uptick in anti-LGBTI sentiment in the lead up to the 2019 presidential elections.

Several regional authorities in Java have increased their calls against the LGBTI community.

Last month, the Cianjur regency sent a memo to mosques in the region, requesting they conduct sermons warning of ‘The Dangers of LGBT, Sodomy and Abuse’.

This month also saw thousands of anti-LGBTI protesters marching on the Mayor’s Office in Bogor. The protesters demanded that the city ban all LGBTI people.

Hardline running mate

In August, president Joko Widodo named hardline Islamic scholar Ma’ruf Amin as his running mate for the upcoming elections.

Ma’ruf has issued numerous fatwas against the LGBTI community.

In the past, he has also said that ‘LGBTI people should be criminalized because of their ‘deviant behavior‘.

Human Rights Watch were quick to express concern about the choice of running mate.

‘[Amin has] played a pivotal role in fuelling worsening discrimination against the country’s religious and gender minorities,’ the HRW said in a statement.

The presidential elections will take place on 17 April next year.

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