Blinken conveys U.S. concern over Indonesia criminal code

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media prior to meetings at the State Department in Washington, U.S., on February 7, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed Washington's concern about certain provisions in Indonesia's new criminal code in a call Thursday with the country's foreign minister, Retno Marsudi, the State Department said.

Indonesian lawmakers approved a new criminal code in December banning sex outside marriage and prohibiting cohabitation between unmarried couples.