Indonesia criminalises adultery, passes new law, here's everything you need to know

Indonesia's new legislation will take effect in three years, and it is expected that there will be legal challenges. This week, several groups of young individuals protested the law outside parliament in Jakarta.

Unmarried couples can be imprisoned for up to a year for adultery under the new laws, which will also apply to foreigners visiting Bali and other Indonesian tourist destinations.

They are also prohibited from residing together, which is punishable by up to six months in prison. Adultery will also be a crime punishable by imprisonment. Ajeng, a 28-year-old Muslim woman residing in Depok, West Java, claimed she was now in danger since she had been living with her lover for the previous five years.



She stated that under the new rule, they might face jail term if one of the family members decides to file a police report. What if one of her family members has an issue with her and chooses to put her in jail?

"I think living together or having sex outside of marriage is not a crime. In my religion, it's considered a sin. But I don't think the criminal code should be based on a certain religion", she adds.

She stated that she had participated in countrywide demonstrations when the bill was initially proposed in 2019. She took the banner and proceeded to the streets to fight for the right to snuggle.

FAQs:

1. Why do Indian names exist in Indonesia?
   This is due to the Indian cultural influence that arrived in the archipelago thousands of years ago during the Indianization of South East Asian kingdoms.
2. Is Indonesia a safe place to live?
   Life in Indonesia is fraught with dangers such as earthquakes, traffic accidents, and minor crime, but one of the most severe concerns is terrorism. Attacks on political targets in Jakarta continue, and tragically, westerners are a popular target for insurgents.