Indonesia's parliament has overhauled the country's criminal code to outlaw sex outside marriage and curtail free speech, in a dramatic setback to freedoms. Passed with support from all political parties, the draconian legislation has shocked not only
rights activists but also the country's booming tourism sector, which relies on a stream of visitors to its tropical islands. Newspapers in Australia have labelled the legislation the Bali bonk ban as the law will apply to Indonesians and
visiting foreigners. Maulana Yusran, the deputy chief of Indonesia's tourism industry board, said: The code was totally counterproductive and introduced just as the country was trying to recover from the
pandemic. We deeply regret the government have closed their eyes.
Supporters of the new laws say that while sex outside marriage will be punishable by a year in jail and cohabitation by six months, charges can nominally be based only
on police reports lodged by a spouse, parents or children. But Taufik Basari, a legislator of the NasDem party, said that if a tourist visiting Bali, for instance, had consensual sex with an Indonesian national, and it was reported to police by the
Indonesian's parent or child, that tourist could be arrested. There are fears the rules could have a severe impact on LGBTQ+ communities in Indonesia, where gay marriage is not acknowledged. | 
