Indonesia’s parliament on Tuesday (Dec 6) approved legislative amendments banning premarital sex and other major changes to the country’s criminal code. Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said that he approved this text, which received the majority of votes in the plenary session. The project has sparked outrage from rights groups, which denounce an attack on civil liberties and a shift toward fundamentalism in the world’s most populous Muslim country.
Indonesia’s current Penal Code dates back to Dutch colonial times, and its revision has been debated for decades. “We have done our best to take into account the important issues and differing opinions that have been discussed. However, it is time for us to make a historic decision to amend the Penal Code and leave behind us the colonial Penal Code that we have inherited.”Minister of Justice Yassonna Laoli told the parliament about it.
Albert Aris, a spokesman for the Planning Commission, defended the changes before the vote, saying the law would protect the institution of marriage. He added that premarital and extramarital sexual acts can only be reported by the spouse, parents or children, which de facto limits the scope of the text.
“Our democracy is definitely declining”
But critics of the new law denounce it as an attack on moral freedom. Among the most controversial articles of the newly adopted code are the criminalization of extramarital sexual relations, as well as the cohabitation of unmarried couples. These rules could also have a major impact on Indonesia’s LGBTQ community, where same-sex marriage is illegal, rights groups say.
Rights groups say the new changes highlight a growing slide toward fundamentalism in a country long hailed for its religious tolerance, with secularism enshrined in its constitution. “We are retreating… the repressive laws should have been abolished. But the bill shows that the arguments of foreign scholars are correct, that our democracy is definitely in decline.Usman Hamid, director of Amnesty International Indonesia, told AFP about it.
The United States condemns the new law
The United States on Tuesday expressed concern about the new law, warning about the possible consequences of such a decision on economic investments in this country. “We are concerned about how these changes may affect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Indonesia.“American diplomatic spokesman Ned Price told the press, before also expressing concern about the impact of this decision by the Indonesian parliament.”US citizens living or visiting the country and business investments“.
Source: Le Figaro
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.