Indonesia expected to ban premarital sex and criticizing the president

South-East Asian nation Indonesia is expected to pass legislation this month which would make it illegal to have sex outside marriage and also criminalize any derogatory comments against the president or state institutions

The deputy justice minister, Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej told Reuters that they expect the new criminal code to be signed off by December 15th. “We’re proud to have a criminal code that’s in line with Indonesian values,” he said.

Bambang Wuryanto, who is a lawmaker involved in the draft, said the code could be passed as early as the week commencing Monday 5th December.

If the legislation is passed, it would apply to both Indonesian citizens and foreign visitors.

Sex outside marriage could result in offenders receiving a one-year prison sentence, while unmarried couples would be prohibited from living together. Under the law, only people close to the offenders, such as relatives, could report them.

Insulting the president, which under the code could be reported only by the president, would be punishable by a prison sentence not exceeding 3 years. Insulting state institutions and expressing any views which contradict Indonesia’s state ideology would also be outlawed.