MUI Affirms That Men Dressing as Women in Independence Day Carnivals Is Haram
The Fatwa Commission of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has stressed that men wearing women's clothing in independence celebration carnivals is haram. Vice Secretary of the MUI Fatwa Commission, KH Abdul Muiz Ali, stated that festivity cannot be used as an excuse to ignore religious rules about the prohibition of tasyabbuh. “It is haram for men to dress or wear clothes commonly worn by women. The same applies the other way around,” he said on Friday (7/8/2026).
This prohibition is based on a sahih hadith from Imam Bukhari about the Prophet Muhammad's condemnation of men who imitate women and vice versa. MUI emphasized that the ban doesn't change even if it's done as part of entertainment or in public spaces. Independence celebrations, according to MUI, should be a way to show gratitude and make social contributions, not just ceremonial festivity.
KH Muiz Ali also pointed out the risk of hidden messages, worrying that such practices could be used to promote movements forbidden by religion. “In today's context, wearing clothes of the opposite gender tends to promote practices that are forbidden by religion and go against social norms,” he stressed. MUI reminds that carnival creativity is still allowed, but it can't be separated from ethical and religious boundaries, especially since this activity involves children and adults and can become public content on social media.
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