A new criminal code that curbs political liberties and outlaws extramarital sex has been approved by Indonesia’s parliament.
According to the new legislation, which goes into force in three years, having sex outside of marriage might result in a jail sentence of up to a year.
The numerous adjustments follow a growth in religious conservatism in the nation with a majority of Muslims.
The laws are criticized as a “disaster” for human rights and as a possible hindrance to travel and investment.
This week, a number of mostly young people’s groups demonstrated against the legislation in front of the Jakarta parliament. It is anticipated that the new laws will face legal challenges.
Many Indonesians protested in 2019, according to Ajeng, even though they were not subject to the law, they joined the protest because “they don’t want their taxes to be used to send individuals to jail merely for sex.” -(They probably wants their taxes to be used for something more economically rewarding)
“People are incensed that their freedom is being restricted. Indonesia faces many issues, including poverty, climate change, and corruption, but instead of finding a solution, lawmakers have come up with a plan that makes things worse.”
Reference: Indonesia passes criminal code banning sex outside marriage | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63869078
