Do Indonesia’s anti-pornography laws protect morals or encourage discrimination and abuse?
The law was enacted to protect citizens from pornography and ‘pornographic acts’, but critics say it is open to wide interpretation and gives authorities the power to trample over human rights
“VIRGIN WANTED. No experiences necessary,” read the home screen of controversial Indonesian website Nikahsirri.com. “Turning adultery into worship” is its tagline.
Now blocked by the Indonesian government under the nation’s strict anti-pornography laws, passed into legislation in October 2008, the site promoted a service where men could be matched with virgins for “secret marriages” under Islam, but not recognised by the state. Claiming virgins could earn tens of thousands of dollars, it required them to be a minimum of just 14 years old.
Ironically, in illustrating the sinfulness of pre-marital sex, Nikahsirri includes a still from an amateur sex video – the very reason for its suspension under Indonesia’s pornography law. It also stands accused of facilitating prostitution, which is also banned under the legislation.
It is easy to be ensnared in Indonesia’s loosely phrased anti-pornography law. Rizieq Shihab, leader of the hardline organisation Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) was instrumental in the law’s introduction a decade ago, Rizieq was charged under the same law in May after screenshots of explicit WhatsApp messages he allegedly sent to a woman who is not his wife were circulated widely online.
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In 2006, at the height of public debate about pornography, Rizieq’s FPI vigilantes vandalised the offices of Playboy Indonesia, even though it was not publishing nude photos. “The name itself means a man who likes to play around with women. Who can guarantee that they won’t publish nudity in the future?” he said at the time.