Pleasure Marriages: Why are women marrying tourists in THIS country, illegally?

Pleasure Marriages Indonesia: This underground industry, despite being illegal, has become a significant contributor to Indonesia's economy.

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Mayank Kasyap
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Image used for representative purpose only. (Flickr)

Pleasure Marriages Indonesia: In Indonesia, despite being illegal like prostitution, some women continue to engage in "pleasure marriages"—temporary unions with tourists in exchange for money. This troubling practice, known as nikah mut’ah, involves a prearranged duration and dowry and has led to the exploitation of many young women across Asian countries. These women often provide sexual services and work as domestic helpers for tourists, entering into multiple temporary marriages over time.

What are Pleasure Marriages?

Pleasure marriages, or nikah mut’ah, are short-term marital contracts in Islam, where both the duration of the marriage and the dowry (mahr) are agreed upon in advance. While such practices are illegal in Indonesia, they continue to thrive, particularly with Middle Eastern tourists who visit the country. Women in these arrangements, often desperate for money, enter into these temporary marriages, providing not just physical companionship but also household labor.

An expanding industry?

A report by the Los Angeles Times has highlighted how this practice has grown into a thriving, albeit illicit, industry in Indonesia, blending into the tourism sector despite its illegality. "We see now this practice is expanding. Tourism meets economic needs," said Yayan Sopyan, a professor of Islamic family law at Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University in Jakarta, in an interview with the LA Times.

This underground industry, despite being illegal, has become a significant contributor to Indonesia's economy. Some women, especially those facing financial hardships, see pleasure marriages as their only means of survival.

Cahaya’s Story: Trapped in a cycle

Cahaya, a woman who has been involved in pleasure marriages for a decade, has married tourists as many as 15 times. Her first experience came at the age of 17, when she married a tourist from Saudi Arabia in his 50s. The marriage took place in a modest Jakarta hotel, with her older sister acting as her guardian. Cahaya received roughly Rs 71,363 for this temporary union, but half of it went to the broker who arranged the marriage. In addition to providing sexual services, Cahaya had to clean and cook for the man, as she also became his domestic helper. After five days, when the tourist was ready to return to Saudi Arabia, he ended the marriage by saying "talaq" three times.

Cahaya’s entry into this exploitative world began after a difficult divorce at the age of 13, which left her alone with her daughter and no financial support. Factory jobs and retail work did not provide enough income, leading her elder sister—also involved in contract marriages—to introduce her to a broker.

Abuse and Exploitation: Dark realities of Pleasure Marriage

In one of her most harrowing experiences, Cahaya traveled to Saudi Arabia with a man who promised to treat her like a "queen." Instead, upon arrival, she was forced into unpaid household labor, enduring abuse, humiliation, and neglect. She was treated as a slave, with the man spitting in her meals, shouting at her, and denying her sleep.

Desperate to escape, Cahaya made several attempts to flee but was always caught. Eventually, she reached out to the man who had initially introduced her to pleasure marriages. It took months of pleading with the Saudi Embassy and Indonesian ministries before she could secure a way home. It was only after a suicide attempt that her situation gained urgency, and a relative of her contract husband purchased a ticket for her return to Indonesia.

This is a disturbing trend

Cahaya's story is just one example of the growing number of women in Indonesia trapped in these exploitative pleasure marriages. While they may provide temporary financial relief, the long-term consequences of abuse, exploitation, and lack of legal protection make this a tragic reality for many. As this underground industry continues to expand, calls for stronger enforcement of laws and protection for vulnerable women are growing.