What expats and tourists need to know about new sex laws in Indonesia

JAKARTA Indonesias new criminal code outlawing sex outside marriage and potentially curbing free speech will apply to citizens and foreigners in the country, spurring uncertainty among tourists and expatriates.

Critics have said that the new laws infringe on peoples personal lives and attempts to prevent criticism of the government, a setback for the countrys democracy that could mar its investment climate.

The law could also deter foreign travellers, which may undermine economic recovery in tourism-reliant places like Bali that are just rebounding since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Heres what you need to know about the new laws: What are the new rules on sex outside marriage?

Anyone engaged in sex outside marriage may face up to one year in prison or fines. Anyone cohabiting as husband and wife outside marriage may face up to six months in prison. In both cases, the police can prosecute people only based on official complaints made by their parent, child or spouse. Does the new code outlaw sex work?

The code does not specify sex work but the ban on extramarital sex would effectively make sex work or prostitution illegal. What about LGBTQ relationships?

The code would effectively criminalise LGBTQ relationships. The government does not recognise same-sex marriages, so any sexual activity between people of the same gender would be considered extramarital. When will the new criminal code come into effect?

There will be a three-year transition period until the law is fully in place, as the government must draft the implementing regulation. Now that Parliament has passed the Bill, the next step is for President Joko Widodo better known as Jokowi to sign off. He is widely expected to approve it. How strictly will the rules be enforced?

It is unclear whether couples travelling to Indonesia and staying in hotels will be scrutinised and penalised. Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej said that the authorities will act only if there is a complaint, and raids will not be carried out. The criminal code recognises living laws, which includes the strict syariah legislation, which means local governments across 34 provinces can enact their own laws based on the criminal code. Will the law be enforced in Bali?

The criminal code applies to the entire country, including Bali, but each province can enforce its own laws based on the code. The new laws could become controversial there, given the islands reliance on tourism. What other contentious laws are in the new code?

Foreigners could run afoul of other provisions in the criminal code. It penalises people who insult the president, vice-president and the government. The code also punishes abortion but makes exceptions for medical emergencies or rape. How strong is the opposition to the code?

Small protests have already taken place in capital city Jakarta. Civil rights organisations are planning to file a legal challenge to the constitutional court. When Parliament introduced its first draft of the Bill in 2019, days of violent demonstrations erupted, prompting Mr Widodo to delay the legislation in order to get more feedback from the public. BLOOMBERG Remote video URL More On This Topic Indonesian Parliament approves legislation to outlaw sex outside marriage Why is Indonesia's new criminal code so controversial? Your browser does not support iframes, but you can use the following link: Link