Thousands of student protesters have taken to the streets of Indonesia to oppose a controversial draft criminal code that would make consensual sex outside of marriage illegal
On Tuesday -- the second consecutive day of mass demonstrations in the capital -- protesters gathered outside the parliament building in the country's capital Jakarta to demand the government withdraw the draft code. Pictures from the rally show large crowds of mostly young protesters setting bonfires on the street and waving banners.An estimated 18,000 police were dispatched to guard the Parliament Building, state media reported.
But it could only be delayed for a week as Indonesia's new Parliament will be sworn in at the start of next month.How the law changes are connectedIndonesia is the world's largest Muslim-majority country, but prides itself on being a tolerant nation with a diverse mix of ethnicities and religions. But there has been a rising intolerance in the country against religious and sexual minorities from increasingly assertive religious conservatives.
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