Baller Alert Entertainment & Lifestyle
News anchors T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach wouldn’t stand a chance in Indonesia, where sex outside the marriage has just been made a crime.
On Tuesday, Indonesian lawmakers unanimously passed a new law that makes having sex outside of marriage a crime. The newly introduced criminal code prohibits sex before marriage among monogamous couples and extramarital affairs.
While this new ruling may not surprise natives of the conservative nation, this new set of regulations poses significant challenges to the tourist industry. According to the Indonesian government, the law also applies to foreign residents and visitors. Human rights activists are concerned that the country will impede the personal freedoms of those traveling to the country and living there.
Under the latest version of this criminal code that has been in the works for years, anyone who engages in sex outside of wedlock may be sentenced to one year behind bars. Parents may report their children if they suspect sexual relations or cohabitating before marriage. Currently, millions of couples live together without a marriage license in Indonesia, all of which are now at risk of being arrested if reported.
“Should we ask overseas unmarried couples if they are married or not? Do tourist couples have to prove that they are married?” asked Putu Winastra, chairman of the Association of the Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies in Bali, according to CNN.
While the act of cheating or premarital sex can be reported, proving it actually occurred may be difficult, especially among travelers. Human Rights Watch Indonesia Researcher Andreas Harsono believes that the broad law could result in “selective enforcement.”
If you were thinking of taking your trusty side piece or even your main boo to Indonesia for a romantic getaway anytime soon, you might want to rethink this destination if you don’t have a marriage certificate to back it up.
