Indonesia to outlaw sex outside marriage

Robert Besser
08 Dec 2022, 22:10 GMT+10

Indonesia parliament approved sweeping changes to its criminal code this week, including penalizing sex outside of marriage.
The offense could carry a sentence of up to one year in jail, and unmarried couples will be prohibited from living together
While most Indonesian Muslims practice a moderate version of Islam, there has been a rise in religious conservatism in recent years

JAKARTA, Indonesia: In a legal overhaul that critics say could curb freedoms and police morality in the world's third-largest democracy, Indonesia's parliament has approved sweeping changes to its criminal code this week, including penalizing sex outside of marriage.

The offense could carry a sentence of up to one year in jail, and unmarried couples will be prohibited from living together.

"The state cannot manage morality. The government's duty is not as an umpire between conservative and liberal Indonesia," said Bivitri Susanti, a law expert from the Indonesia Jentera School of Law, as quoted by Reuters.

Most of Indonesia's population is Muslim, but it is also home to Hindus, Christians and people practicing other religions.

While most Indonesian Muslims practice a moderate version of Islam, there has been a rise in religious conservatism in recent years.

Parliament originally intended to ratify a new criminal code in September 2019, but demonstrations over perceived threats to civil liberties halted its passage, forcing legislators to water down some of the articles deemed most contentious.

The new code will come into force in three years after being ratified.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to China National News.

More Information

3 ℃

Fair / Windy in Shanghai/Hongqiao

International

Section

As births continue to fall, Japan seeks incentives for parents

TOKYO, Japan: Japanese Prime minister Fumio Kishida said this week that it was "now or never" for Japan, one of ...

US moving towards offering annual Covid vaccines to most Americans

WASHINGTON D.C.: As part of its efforts to simplify the national COVID-19 vaccine strategy, the US Food and Drug Administration ...

December crossings of US border set record

WASHINGTON D.C.: US authorities said this week that a surge in Cubans and Nicaraguans arriving at the US border with ...

Canada faces resistance to cutbacks from oil-producing Alberta

OTTAWA, Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government plans to implement its long-awaited workforce transition bill, the "Just Transition," ...

Japan's Kishida expected to visit Ukraine for talks with Zelenskiy

TOKYO, Japan: The Yomiuri newspaper has reported that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is planning to visit Kyiv in February ...

Hawaii mourns death of last island princess

HONOLULU, Hawaii: The casket bearing Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawananakoa, long considered the last Hawaiian princess, has gone on public viewing ...

Asia Pacific

Section