Indonesian university won’t allow LGBTI students to enrol

Indonesia’s anti-LGBTI crisis shows no sign of abating as one university says it won’t allow anyone who identifies as LGBTI to enrol.

Andalas University (Unand), in the city of Padang in the West Sumatra province, is forcing prospective student to sign a mandatory statement that they are not LGBTI.

The statement was posted on its website but has now been removed after it went viral. The university, however, says that the policy still stands.

“If you do not sign the form, you cannot enter Unand,” the Rector of Unand, Tafdil Husni, unashamedly told Tempo on Tuesday.

He revealed that further requirements will be added to the form and those who wish to study at the university will also have to pledge that they are not immoral or drug users. Students who violate these conditions may be subject to expulsion.

Activists are outraged at the policy and say that it is discriminatory and unconstitutional.

While homosexuality is legal in Indonesia, the national government allowed the Aceh province to introduce a by-law in 2014 through which those found guilty of homosexuality face up to 100 lashes and up to 100 months in prison.

There has also been a spike in discrimination against LGBTI people across the country since January 2016, including intimidation and harassment by religious extremist groups.

In November 2016, police arrested 13 men at a gay party in South Jakarta, despite them breaking no law. This week, it was reported that another eight men had been arrested for also holding a gay party in Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said in October that LGBTI people must not be discriminated against, but the persecution has only worsened.