Indonesian officials say tourists will not be charged under new law banning sex outside of marriage – although revised rules also include foreign tourists
Indonesian officials say tourists will not be charged under the country’s controversial new ban on extramarital sex, although the ban still applies to foreign tourists.
Earlier this month, the country’s parliament unanimously passed amendments to the country’s penal code to criminalize extramarital sex by citizens and foreigners.
The controversial laws also prohibit the promotion of contraceptive products such as condoms and prohibit defamation of the president and state institutions.
The new law will take effect within three years.
Now, Bali officials say tourists visiting the country have “no need to worry” about the rules.
“According to the provisions of Indonesia’s new criminal law, tourists who visit or live in Bali need not worry,” Bali Governor Wayan Koster said in a statement.
He also added that “tourist accommodation such as hotels, villas, guesthouses or spas will not conduct marital status checks, nor will public officials or community groups conduct checks.”
Meanwhile, Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, the country’s Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights, told local news: “I want to emphasize to foreign tourists, please come to Indonesia because this article does not You will be charged.”
But it’s worth noting that the law still applies to foreign tourists, even though officials say they won’t charge tourists.
Amendment stipulates that the complainant in an adultery case must be an immediate family member of one of the parties. This means that only the spouse, parent or child who has been negatively affected can report it.
Therefore, foreign tourists will only be locked up in Bali prisons if they bring their families and decide to report to the Indonesian police.
However, single tourists should be more careful when dating Indonesian citizens in case their relatives decide to dispute the relationship.
Human rights activists have slammed the new revisions.Although the UN says the laws could erode human rights in the country
Meanwhile, Andreas Harsono, a senior Indonesian researcher at Human Rights Watch, warned that the change in the law could deter tourists from going.
“The danger of oppressive laws is not that they are widely applied, but that they provide an avenue for selective enforcement,” he said.
“Many hotels, including those in tourist areas such as Bali and Jakarta, will risk losing tourists. These laws allow police to extort bribes and officials to jail political enemies with blasphemy laws.
The revised statute states that sex outside of marriage is punishable by one year in prison and six months in prison.
Before traveling or planning a trip, be sure to check the latest Indonesia travel advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which includes any laws and rules you should be aware of before traveling abroad.
The advice currently does not include the forthcoming ban on sex outside of marriage, but is usually updated by the Foreign Office to signal the entry into force of new rules.
