Indonesian lawmakers debate strict new laws forbidding sex outside marriage

Just as Indonesia is increasing in popularity as a destination for expat retirees and entrepreneurs, its government is proposing a total ban on sex outside marriage.

The proposed draft legislation now being debated by Indonesian lawmakers, but is being rubbished by human rights activists as a breach against human rights which will slow the country’s development towards its desired first world status. Human Rights Watch spokesperson Andreas Harsono is quoted by Reuters as saying the draft legislation will slow the country’s developing economy, impact education and damage local society as well as impacting the pursuit of knowledge.

Harsano believes police will be too busy interfering in peoples’ private lives to do their proscribed job of preventing robberies and other violent crime, adding the ban on cohabitation is certain to affect every couple without an immediately available marriage license as well as criminalising those who, for religious reasons, are not able to obtain a license due to their religion not being officially recognised. The parliamentary debate also includes measures to criminalise as yet unregulated sexual activities such as cohabitation, same-sex relationships and extramarital sex. As regards adultery, the law is expected to include sexual relations between a married person and another who is not the spouse, although this is not to be considered a crime unless complaints have been lodged.

Unsurprisingly, Indonesia’s conservative groups have welcomed the draft law, whilst activists are up in arms against the possibility of its passing. One representative of the conservative group Family Love Alliance told the media the law is representative of Indonesia’s culture, its religious values and its majority of peoples. The group is pushing hard for the draft to be passed into law, but expat forums are largely against the proposed legislation on the grounds of human rights.