Robert Besser
08 Dec 2022, 22:10 GMT+10
JAKARTA, Indonesia: In a legal overhaul that critics say could curb freedoms and police morality in the world's third-largest democracy, Indonesia's parliament has approved sweeping changes to its criminal code this week, including penalizing sex outside of marriage.
The offense could carry a sentence of up to one year in jail, and unmarried couples will be prohibited from living together.
"The state cannot manage morality. The government's duty is not as an umpire between conservative and liberal Indonesia," said Bivitri Susanti, a law expert from the Indonesia Jentera School of Law, as quoted by Reuters.
Most of Indonesia's population is Muslim, but it is also home to Hindus, Christians and people practicing other religions.
While most Indonesian Muslims practice a moderate version of Islam, there has been a rise in religious conservatism in recent years.
Parliament originally intended to ratify a new criminal code in September 2019, but demonstrations over perceived threats to civil liberties halted its passage, forcing legislators to water down some of the articles deemed most contentious.
The new code will come into force in three years after being ratified.
Get a daily dose of St Louis Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to St Louis Star.
More InformationWASHINGTON D.C.: This week, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed significant limits on levels of lead in processed ...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Finland and Sweden are prepared to join the NATO alliance, the U.S. State Department announced this week.The move ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The US Justice Department has filed an antitrust complaint claiming that Google is abusing its dominance in digital ...
Public health experts have welcomed Mexico's ban on cigarette smoking in all public places, including hotels and beaches, after the ...
YONKERS, New York: After testing discovered harmful levels of heavy metals in chocolate, consumer magazine Consumer Reports has urged four ...
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso: As Burkina Faso, in western Africa, faces an Islamist insurgency, it is set to end a military ...
BENTONVILLE, Arkansas: To attract and retain employees in a tight domestic labor market, Walmart has announced that it it will ...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks hesitatingly continued higher Friday, reflecting widespread gains, albeit modest ones, across the globe."We're ...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: As early as this year, lab-grown meat could be served in some restaurants in the ...
BANGKOK, Thailand: Following China's reopening and the end of its strict COVID-19 restrictions, businesses on Thailand's holiday island of Phuket ...
NEW YORK, New York - Recession fears faded on Wall Street Thursday as annualized 4th quarter GDP (gross domestic product) ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: In December 2022, US existing home sales declined to a 12-year low, but lower mortgage rates raised cautious ...