'Serious threat': Indonesia legal reform sparks rights challenges

An activist shouts slogans during a protest, as Indonesia is set to pass a new criminal code that will ban sex outside marriage, cohabitation between unmarried couples, insulting the president, and expressing views counter to the national ideology, outside the Indonesian Parliament buildings in Jakarta, Indonesia. - Photo: Reuters

JAKARTA: Activists are challenging Indonesia's new criminal code, which outlaws sex outside marriage and the insulting of top officials, saying it threatens rights and gives authorities broad power with minimal oversight.

The government has celebrated the new framework, which replaced the Dutch colonial-era criminal code on Jan 2, and insisted the overhaul was not seeking to quash freedoms.