Transgender Woman with 1 Million Followers Detained in Male Jail by Indonesian Police... Protests Erupt

Police: "Male According to ID... Later Moved to Solitary Confinement"

Recently, the Indonesian police have detained Milrun Cyrus, a transgender female suspect, in a male detention center, sparking a wave of protests from local human rights organizations. Photo by Milrun Cyrus SNS capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Indonesian police have sparked protests from local human rights groups by detaining a transgender woman suspect in a male detention center.

According to Indonesian media on the 26th, Millen Cyrus, a local famous social media influencer with about one million Instagram followers, was recently arrested in Jakarta on charges of drug possession.

Cyrus, who transitioned from male to female, was placed in a male detention center.

When the fact that he was detained in a male detention center became known through local media, human rights groups and netizens protested and rose up.

In response, local police moved Cyrus to a solitary cell, and a Jakarta police spokesperson explained, "Since Cyrus is listed as male on the government ID, we followed that, but considering the situation, we relocated him to a special detention room."

Human rights groups and netizens pointed out, "This case highlights the situation of sexual minorities such as gays and transgender people who face difficulties in Indonesia."

Arus Peranggi of the Indonesian Transgender Network said, "We hope the police will respect the suspect's human rights without discrimination or transphobia during the investigation process."

In Indonesia, which has a large Muslim population, it is reported that there is a discriminatory atmosphere against sexual minorities, especially centered in Aceh Province, where Islamic fundamentalism is strong.

In Aceh Province, in 2018, local police publicly humiliated about ten transgender women by forcibly shaving their heads and dressing them in male clothes.