In Indonesia, sex outside of marriage is now prohibited

One year in prison for having sex outside of marriage and six months in prison for unmarried cohabitation, here are the medieval penalties that the law now provides in Indonesia. According to AFP extension, the Indonesian parliament passed legislative amendments that make significant changes to the country’s penal code. Among these, the prohibition of sexual relations between unmarried people and cohabitation outside of marriage.

A serious violation of freedoms

The Indonesian authorities have guaranteed that these bans will not apply to foreigners visiting the country. Maybe because otherwise it would have too much impact on tourism? As for its population, the authorities simply rely on the complaint to obtain information regarding intimate life and rarely leave the home. But not everyone will have time to be able to point out what is happening between the neighbor’s sheets. Only spouses, parents or children will be able to report premarital or extramarital sexual relations of which they are aware.

For human rights organizations, these new laws constitute a serious attack on civil liberties. “We are backing out… The repressive laws should have been abolished. But the bill shows that foreign scholars’ arguments are true, that our democracy is indisputably in decline.said Usman Hamid, director of Amnesty International Indonesia AFP extension.

Towards a change in the Indonesian penal code

Indonesia’s current penal code dates back to the Dutch colonial era, and emancipations from it have been called for for decades. It is clear that change is taking place, but in reverse. A meaning that however suits the Minister of Justice, Yasonna Laoly. He told the parliament: “We have done our best to take into account the important issues and the different opinions that have been discussed. However, the time has come for us to take a historic decision on amending the Penal Code and leave behind the colonial Penal Code that we inherited. » Historical certainly, certainly liberticidal.

Cover image: Unsplash / Nick Agus Arya