Indonesia set to punish sex before marriage with jail time
Indonesia's parliament is expected to pass a new criminal law this month that will punish sex outside marriage with imprisonment of up to a year.
Bambang Wuryanto, a politician involved in the draft, said the code could be passed as early as next week. The law, if passed, would apply to Indonesian citizens and foreigners alike. Punishment for adultery can only take effect if there are parties who lodge complaints to the authorities.
For those who are married, the party entitled to lodge a complaint is the perpetrator's husband or wife. The law also allows the parents of unmarried people to report them for having sex. Cohabitation before marriage will also be banned and those convicted could face a six-month prison sentence.