This archive report was first published on 20 September 2019.
September 20, 2019
Indonesia's parliament is on the verge of adopting a draconian penal code that would criminalize a range of activities, including consensual sex outside marriage.
The proposed laws, set to be adopted next week, would replace a Dutch colonial-era set of laws and make extramarital sex, cohabitation outside of marriage, providing contraceptives to children under 18, abortion, and insulting the president punishable offenses.
Under the proposed laws, unmarried individuals who live together as a husband and wife could face up to six months in prison or a maximum fine of $710.
Additionally, individuals who engage in sex with someone who is not their spouse could be imprisoned for up to one year. The law would also apply to homosexuals, as gay marriage is not recognized in the predominantly Muslim nation.
Human rights groups have criticized the new penal code, describing it as an 'intrusive assault on basic freedoms.' The Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, an NGO, warned that the laws could affect millions of Indonesians and foreigners.
According to a study cited by the NGO, 40 percent of Indonesian teenagers engage in pre-marital sexual activity. The new laws would also apply to foreigners.
"The state must protect citizens from behavior that is contrary to the supreme precepts of God," said Nasir Djamil, a politician from the Prosperous Justice Party.
