The Indonesian Parliament approved on Tuesday a broad reform of the penal code that includes the prohibition of extramarital sex and apostasy, in addition to insults to the president, among other changes denounced as “undemocratic” by dozens of NGOs and civil groups.
The reform, which has been under discussion for decades and has generated massive protests in the country, was endorsed today by the Indonesian Parliament, the country with the most Muslims in the world and a liberal tradition, according to confirmed to EFE Alif Nurwidiastomi, from the Foundation for Legal Aid. from indonesian.
Among the most criticized clauses are the prohibition of sex outside of marriage in any of its forms with up to one year in prison, as well as the punishment of insulting the president with a maximum of three years in prison, in addition to the outlawing of apostasy. in the country with the most Muslims in the world.
After its approval, a period of “about two years” opens in which the reform can be disputed in the country’s constitutional court, Nurwidiastomi explained to EFE, who discredited the process due to “the links” between said court and the Government and believes that it will end up being implemented.
foreigners and tourists
The changes will affect both the Indonesian population and foreigners residing in the country, as well as tourists visiting a nation with such popular destinations as the island of Bali.
The reform has generated protests since it was threatened to approve it in 2019, when it was paralyzed after massive demonstrations in the country, while dozens of people have been demonstrating against it since yesterday in front of the Parliament in Jakarta.
Almost a hundred NGOs denounced in a statement on Monday that its content is “undemocratic” due to the suppression of freedoms that it entails, in what represents the most extensive reform of the penal code since the independence of Indonesia from the Netherlands in 1945.
His detractors condemn the “Islamization” of the Muslim-majority country, which had passed the dark period of the Suharto dictatorship (1967-1998).
The reform includes for the first time the consideration of apostasy as a crime and expands the already existing laws against blasphemy, urging to prosecute those who express public opinions or commit “hostile acts” against the religions professed in Indonesia with up to 5 years in jail.
It also punishes insulting the country’s president and vice president with a maximum of three years in prison, and prohibits peaceful protests without prior permission, punishable by up to six months in prison.
Blows to freedoms
“What we are witnessing is a significant blow to hard-won progress in protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms in Indonesia for more than two decades,” AI Indonesia Director Usman Hamid said in a statement today.
“Let’s not be deceived, the approval of this penal code is the beginning of an absolute disaster for human rights in Indonesia,” Andreas Harsono, a spokesman for Human Rights Watch in Indonesia, told EFE.
EFE
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