Indonesia: Indonesia’s Parliament has approved legislation that outlaws pre-marital sex and make it punishable by up to a year in prison.
The code includes several morality restrictions and prohibits unmarried couples to live together and have sex. The law is applied to both Indonesians and foreigners.
Both sex before marriage and adultery will be punishable by up to a year in prison or a fine under the code.
We have tried our best to accommodate the important issues and different opinions which were debated. However, it is time for us to make a historical decision on the penal code amendment and to leave the colonial criminal code we inherited behind.
Mr. Yasonna Laoly, Minister of Law and Human Rights, declared.
Mr. Albert Aries, a spokesperson from the Law and Human Rights Ministry, defended the amendments before the vote by stating that the law would protect marriage institutions.
Mr. Aries added that the acts of pre-marital and extramarital sex could only be reported by a spouse, parents or children, limiting the scope of the amendment.
According to critics, the legislation is part of a raft of changes that erode political freedom. Rights groups held protests against the amendments, denouncing a threat to civil liberties and a shift towards religious fundamentalism.
The business groups warned government that the new law could harm Indonesia’s image as a tourism and investment destination.
The law also affects the LGBTQ community in Indonesia, where gay marriage is not allowed.