The Indonesian Parliament is gearing up to pass a criminal code that makes premarital sex an offense punishable under the law.
“Anyone who has intercourse with someone who is not their husband or wife shall be punished for adultery with a maximum imprisonment of 1 (one) year or a maximum fine of category II," reads article 413, paragraph 1 of the Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP).
The code was announced three years ago in the Muslim-majority nation.
The law will come into effect only if a complaint is filed by the husband or wife of the perpetrator of adultery or parents of children not bound by marriage. It is also possible to withdraw the complaint before the examination begins at the trial court.
The code, when passed, will not only be applicable to Indonesian citizens, but to foreigners as well.
Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, who is the Indonesian deputy justice minister, reportedly said the criminal code is in line with Indonesian values.
When the code was announced three years ago, there were several protests against it. The protestors had said passing such a code would amount to curtailing freedom of speech.
