Beware of the political year that is 2018, they said. On Jan. 27, police in North Aceh arrested transgender hairdressers and humiliated them before claiming that “queer people are more dangerous than terrorists.” The next Monday, subscribers of this newspaper woke up to the headline “Criminal Code bill threatens freedom”, which, for many, sounded terrifying. Yes, Indonesia needs to update its penal code, but this is what is being prioritized: Motion to outlaw extramarital sex by expanding the definition of zina (adultery). Motion to outlaw sex and relationships between gay people. Motion to outlaw insults against religious figures; to outlaw discussion on communism; and, finally, to outlaw “unauthorized” advocacy of birth control. These articles are not law — yet. But many people fear that no political party in the House of Representatives ...

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