You might want to remove Bali from your lovers’ paradise tourist destinations – since a new sex law in Indonesia could get tourists jailed.
If you’re thinking of heading to Bali for a romantic getaway, you might want to pause. According to Indonesia’s new law, set to be passed in the coming weeks, having pre-marital sex could lead to prison sentence for the parties involved. What’s more, the laws will be applicable to Indonesian citizens as well as visitors alike. If caught and found guilty, perpetrators could be imprisoned for up to a year.
This is the second time a bill such as this has seen the light of day in the Indonesian parliament. When the government tried to pass a similar law earlier, it prompted widespread criticism and backlash.
According to drafts of the new bill, having sex outside of marriage will be outlawed – but there is one condition. The incident would need to be reported by a close relative of the couple. This, of course, could be a potential saving grace for tourists – but you might want to hold off on telling any relatives who are not particularly fond of you.
In a statement to Reuters, Indonesia’s deputy justice minister, Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, said: “We’re proud to have a criminal code that’s in line with Indonesian values.”
Given Indonesia’s reputation as a popular holiday destination, the tourism and business sector have expressed their concerns about the new law.
Claiming that morality clauses such as this could ‘do more harm than good’, Shinta Widjaja Sukamdani, the deputy chairperson of Indonesia’s Employers’ Association (APINDO), said: “For the business sector, the implementation of this customary law shall create legal uncertainty and make investors re-consider investing in Indonesia.”
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That’s not the only new law in Indonesia that has raised eyebrows. The currently is reportedly also planning to punish insulting its president with a three-year prison sentence.
