Indonesian officers to be investigated for ‘shaming transgenders’ after raids in Banda Aceh
Prejudice against gay and transgender people has long been widespread in Indonesia, which has the world’s largest Muslim population
Indonesian police said on Sunday they would press ahead with an investigation into officers accused of publicly shaming transgender people in conservative Aceh province despite an angry protest against the probe.
North Aceh police chief Ahmad Untung Surianata and several of his subordinates have been questioned by the police internal affairs unit following raids on beauticians’ premises in which 12 transgender staff were detained.
Officers were said to have forcibly cut the hair of some of them and made them wear male clothing and speak in a masculine voice.
Surianata said at the time that mothers had complained the transgender people were teasing their sons.
“The investigation is still ongoing,” Aceh police spokesman Misbahul Munauwar said. “If proven guilty of violating police conduct [rules], they may face disciplinary sanctions.”
Sanctions range from a written reprimand to suspension.