© Antara Foto Agency / Reuters
A police raid on a suspected gay party in Indonesia's capital Jakarta on Sunday resulted in dozens of men being arrested. A dozen are facing criminal charges for prostitution and pornography, while others were allegedly harassed and humiliated.
The party was targeted after an undercover investigation tipped off police about an upcoming event at the Atlantis Gym and Sauna in the northern part of Jakarta, police spokesperson Argo Yuwono told journalists on Monday.
Called "the Wild One," it featured strip dancing and other entertainment for gay guests, the head of one of Jakarta's Police Crime Investigation Units said, as cited by the local
Merdeka.
According to Yuwono, police "detained 141 people who violated pornography laws," with most of them wanted as potential witnesses.
Ten people, including the club's owner and staff, as well as several exotic dancers, have been charged with crimes related to prostitution and pornography, for which they are facing prison terms or heavy fines.
Gay sex itself is not criminalized in Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim nation, except for in the province of Aceh, which adopted Sharia Law in 2014. However, LGBT activists say the country's authorities persecute gay people, creating a hostile environment and exposing gays to vigilantism.
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