‘Gay party’ raid: Malaysian police in Kelantan detain over 20 men

KOTA BHARU, July 17, 2025 – Police in Malaysia’s northeastern state of Kelantan arrested more than 20 men in June after raiding a private bungalow hosting what they described as a “gay party.” Officials say they seized hundreds of condoms and HIV medications, though found no evidence of sexual activity occurring at the scene.

Kelantan police chief Mohd Yusoff Mamat stated the detained men admitted to being part of a gay group. Three individuals have been charged for possessing obscene content on their mobile phones.

This marks the first known incident of its kind in deeply conservative Kelantan, where homosexuality is criminalised under both civil and Islamic law. Malaysia imposes harsh penalties – up to 20 years’ imprisonment and caning for anal sex—alongside potential caning under Syariah law for Muslims.

Civil society groups, including Justice for Sisters and a coalition of NGOs, have condemned the police portrayal of the event, clarifying it may have been an HIV outreach or medical programme rather than a homosexual gathering. They warn that such raids escalate stigma and deter LGBTQ individuals from seeking vital health services.