Indonesians are protesting a new law that criminalizes sex outside of marriage and prohibits unmarried couples from living together.
Lawmakers in the Southeast Asian country unanimously passed the criminal code on Monday, Dec. 5.
The new law, which also applies to foreign residents and tourists, bans cohabitation and fornication.
The new code revises existing colonial-era law, according to Yahoo! News.
“All have agreed to ratify the (draft changes) into law,” said lawmaker Bambang Wuryanto. “The old code belongs to Dutch heritage … and is no longer relevant.”
Citizens and foreign residents who are caught violating the new law could face up to one year in prison.
Critics say the new law threatens human rights and freedoms in the region where violators are already subjected to public floggings for homosexuality and adultery.
Critics warned that the new code would “disproportionately impact women” and LGBT+ people.
Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly said he hoped that Indonesians understood that lawmakers had done everything they could to accommodate “public aspiration”.
“What we’re witnessing is a huge setback to Indonesia’s hard-won progress in protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms after the 1998 revolution. This criminal code should have never been passed in the first place,” said Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia.
It is believed the law was passed to control the population explosion in Indonesia.
Question: Would you comply if Congress banned sex outside of marriage to control the population?
