Indonesia’s top Islamic clerical body, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), has officially cautioned against the long-standing tradition of men wearing women’s clothing during Independence Day festivities. While dressing in drag for comedy football matches and parades has been a lighthearted staple of August 17th celebrations for years, the council now deems such behavior "haram." The MUI claims that these cross-dressing activities violate both Sharia law and local social norms, framing their stance as a protective measure against the perceived influence of the LGBTQ+ movement.

This directive comes during a period of heightened anti-LGBTQ sentiment across the nation, with the council even expanding the warning to include women dressing as men. Critics, however, argue that these performances have historically been intended as harmless entertainment rather than expressions of gender identity. Activists like Dede Oetomo suggest that this move is part of a broader push to "Islamise" daily life, a trend that threatens to further marginalize gender-nonconforming individuals who have been integrated into Indonesian culture for generations.