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| Indonesian police in Aceh province cut hair of transgender women | Indonesian police in Aceh province cut hair of transgender women |
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| Indonesian police forcibly cut the hair of a group of transgender women and made them wear “male” clothing, authorities have said, amid a crackdown on the LGBT community in the world’s biggest Muslim-majority nation. | Indonesian police forcibly cut the hair of a group of transgender women and made them wear “male” clothing, authorities have said, amid a crackdown on the LGBT community in the world’s biggest Muslim-majority nation. |
| The incident happened after police raided several beauty salons in conservative Aceh province on Sunday and rounded up a dozen trans employees over claims they had teased a group of boys. | The incident happened after police raided several beauty salons in conservative Aceh province on Sunday and rounded up a dozen trans employees over claims they had teased a group of boys. |
| Police accused the employees of violating the province’s religious laws. | Police accused the employees of violating the province’s religious laws. |
| Dozens of locals tried to attack the group of beauticians as they were taken to the police station, but they were pushed back by authorities, they said. | Dozens of locals tried to attack the group of beauticians as they were taken to the police station, but they were pushed back by authorities, they said. |
| Police then cut some of their long hair with scissors, as well as forcing them to wear “male” clothing and speak in “masculine” voices. | Police then cut some of their long hair with scissors, as well as forcing them to wear “male” clothing and speak in “masculine” voices. |
| “We have reports from mothers that their sons were teased by the transgender women,” local police chief Ahmad Untung Surianata said. | “We have reports from mothers that their sons were teased by the transgender women,” local police chief Ahmad Untung Surianata said. |
| “Their numbers are growing here – I don’t want that,” he added. | “Their numbers are growing here – I don’t want that,” he added. |
| Surianata said the trans women would be held for “three days to give them counselling and coaching. It’s going well and now they are all acting like real men”. | Surianata said the trans women would be held for “three days to give them counselling and coaching. It’s going well and now they are all acting like real men”. |
| Amnesty International’s Indonesia director, Usman Hamid, said: “The police’s so-called ‘re-education’ of transgender people is not only humiliating and inhumane, it is also unlawful and a clear breach of their human rights. Such incidents must be promptly and effectively investigated.” | Amnesty International’s Indonesia director, Usman Hamid, said: “The police’s so-called ‘re-education’ of transgender people is not only humiliating and inhumane, it is also unlawful and a clear breach of their human rights. Such incidents must be promptly and effectively investigated.” |
| Aceh on Sumatra island has been ruled by Islamic law since it was granted special autonomy in 2001 – an attempt by the central government to quell a long-running separatist insurgency. | Aceh on Sumatra island has been ruled by Islamic law since it was granted special autonomy in 2001 – an attempt by the central government to quell a long-running separatist insurgency. |
| This month a Christian was publicly flogged for selling alcohol in the conservative region, making him the third non-Muslim in Indonesia to suffer a public whipping. | This month a Christian was publicly flogged for selling alcohol in the conservative region, making him the third non-Muslim in Indonesia to suffer a public whipping. |
| Flogging is a common punishment under Aceh’s religious law and local police are also known to shave the heads of those accused of anti-social behaviour. | Flogging is a common punishment under Aceh’s religious law and local police are also known to shave the heads of those accused of anti-social behaviour. |
| The trans women would be detained for several days, followed by a five-day “training” programme including efforts to make them walk and speak in a more “manly” way, as well as “morals teaching” by local clerics, police said. | The trans women would be detained for several days, followed by a five-day “training” programme including efforts to make them walk and speak in a more “manly” way, as well as “morals teaching” by local clerics, police said. |
| “We want to change their mentality so they can be better people,” Surianata said. | “We want to change their mentality so they can be better people,” Surianata said. |
| Homosexuality and gay sex are legal everywhere in Indonesia except in Aceh. Prejudice against trans people, while widespread across the country, is particularly acute in the province. | Homosexuality and gay sex are legal everywhere in Indonesia except in Aceh. Prejudice against trans people, while widespread across the country, is particularly acute in the province. |
| Police have often used the country’s tough anti-pornography legislation to criminalise members of the LGBT community, and there has been a recent string of arrests. | Police have often used the country’s tough anti-pornography legislation to criminalise members of the LGBT community, and there has been a recent string of arrests. |
| “It’s very strange that officers [in Sunday’s incident] would arrest innocent people and cut off their hair,” said gay rights activist Hartoyo, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. | “It’s very strange that officers [in Sunday’s incident] would arrest innocent people and cut off their hair,” said gay rights activist Hartoyo, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. |
| “It’s barbaric.” | “It’s barbaric.” |