Indonesia summons Britain’s envoy after furore over rainbow flag

JAKARTA, Might 23 (Reuters) – Indonesia summoned Britain’s ambassador on Monday to clarify the elevating of a lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) flag at its embassy, and urged overseas missions to respect native “sensitivities” following a backlash amongst conservatives.

Barring the sharia-ruled province of Aceh, homosexuality isn’t unlawful in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, though it’s usually thought of taboo.

The rainbow LGBT flag was flown alongside the British flag on the nation’s embassy in Jakarta on Might 17 to mark the Worldwide Day Towards Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, in accordance an Instagram put up by the embassy.

Alumni 212 Brotherhood, an influential conservative Islamic motion, in an announcement stated the flag sullied the “sacred values of Indonesia”.

Teuku Faizasyah, overseas ministry spokesperson, confirmed British ambassador Owen Jenkins had been summoned.

“The overseas ministry reminds overseas representatives to be respectful of the sensitivities amongst Indonesians on issues related with their tradition, faith and perception,” he stated.

A British embassy spokesperson didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Faizasyah stated that although an embassy is sovereign territory, the Vienna Conference on Diplomatic Relations stipulates solely that nation’s flag will be flown.

Indonesia is turning into much less tolerant of its LGBT neighborhood as some politicians grow to be extra vocal about Islam enjoying a bigger function within the state, in accordance with activists and human rights teams.

A 2020 survey by the Pew Analysis Middle additionally confirmed that 80% of Indonesians imagine homosexuality “shouldn’t be accepted by society”.

Final week, Indonesia’s chief safety minister stated a revision of the prison code being deliberated by parliament included some articles aimed on the LGBT neighborhood, a transfer backed by some conservative lawmakers.

His remarks adopted a backlash over a well-liked podcast that was pressured to scrap an episode this month by which a homosexual couple was interviewed.

Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Modifying by Martin Petty

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