INDONESIA is set to impose strong fines and even prison sentences on anyone caught having sex outside of marriage.
It's just one of a number of controversial pieces of legislation being processed there as the nation moves forward with their significant legal reform.
If the news laws should all pass, it will be illegal in the country to insult the president's dignity, for women to have abortions outside of medical emergencies, to publicise advice on contraception and to commit blasphemy.
Indonesian couples who live together without being legally married could also be sentenced to six months in prison or face a maximum fine of £570, the rough equivalent of three months' salary. A prosecution can proceed if a village chief, who heads the lowest tier of government, files a police complaint, however.
Human rights groups have denounced and criticised the government's new moves calling them an assault on basic freedoms.
However, there is pressure in the country to replace the out-dated penal codes set by the Dutch colonists over 70 years ago.
The new code has taken more than two decades to update but it may be put to a vote as early as next week after a parliamentary taskforce recently finalised the draft.
"Indonesia’s draft criminal code is disastrous not only for women and religious and gender minorities, but for all Indonesians. Lawmakers should remove all the abusive articles before passing the law," said Andreas Harsono, senior Indonesia researcher at Human Rights Watch.
"The bill’s provisions censoring information about contraception could set back the progress Indonesia has made in recent years to dramatically reduce maternal deaths," he added.
Technically, these new laws would also apply to foreigners, so if any singletons have a holiday planned to Indonesia, you better not be taking any condoms with you!
