Holidays in Bali? Indonesia reassures tourists after the law that criminalizes adultery

The authorities of Indonesia They tried to reassure tourists on Monday after the publication of a new penal code criminalizing extramarital sex.

“I want to address foreign tourists by saying: “Come to Indonesia, you will not be prosecuted for this article”“, Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, Deputy Minister of Justice and Human Rights, told the press.

According to the new penal code, extramarital sexual relations and concubinage can only be reported by close relatives of the persons concerned (spouse, father or child), he indicated, recalling that the previous version of the penal code already punished adultery.

On Tuesday, the parliament of the south-east Asian country approved a text that punishes extramarital sex with up to one year in prison and concubinage with six months in prison.

Business representatives have expressed their concern about the reform, which could harm tourism.

“Bali is still Bali”

In Bali, the archipelago’s main tourist destination, Governor Wayan Koster also sent a reassuring message, assuring that the authorities they will not check the marital status of tourists.

The Hindu-majority island will not change its policies for foreigners after the new legislation takes effect, he said. “Bali is still Bali”, an island “comfortable and safe for visitors”.

The new penal code has yet to be ratified by the president, Joko Widodo. In principle, It will enter into force after three years.after a transitional period.

what the code says

A copy of the new penal code seen by The Associated Press includes several revised articles about sex outside marriage an offense punishable by one year’s imprisonment and cohabitation with six months, even if the adultery charges must be based on police reports filed by the defendant’s spouses, parents, or children.

Also designates contraceptive promotion and religious profanity such as illegal and reinstates the veto to insult a sitting president or vice president, state institutions, and national ideology. Insulting the sitting president must be reported by the president and can carry up to three years in prison.

The text supports it abortion is a crimealthough it adds exceptions for women with life-threatening medical issues and rape, provided the fetus is less than 12 weeks old, in line with regulations in its 2004 Medical Practice Act.

Rights groups have criticized many of the reforms as too broad or vague, warning that rushing their implementation could penalize normal activities and threaten free speech and privacy rights.

Clarín writing with information from AFP and AP