The new Indonesian Criminal Code has drawn criticism since its official enactment

Indonesia officially enacted its new Criminal Code on January 2, 2026, replacing the old one. The new Code is intended to create a national criminal law based on Pancasila. However, in the short time since its enactment, the new Code has drawn criticism.

Associate Professor Saru Arifin is a lecturer in International Human Rights Law at the Faculty of Law, Semarang State University (UNES), after his presentation at the Faculty of Law, Islamic University in Jogyakarta – 24 Dec 2025.

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Associate Professor Saru Arifin is a lecturer in International Human Rights Law at the Faculty of Law, Semarang State University (UNES).

He generally examines the new Criminal Code from the perspective of its legislative quality, substance, and enforcement. He believes that there are still controversial articles that prioritize the criminal aspect.

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