Temporary marriages in Indonesia spark outrage as rural women become $500 brides for foreign tourists

According to the South China Morning Post, in Puncak, a tourist destination in western Indonesia known for attracting Middle Eastern tourists, local agencies arrange these marriages between male visitors and local women.

After a brief wedding ceremony, the women are expected to handle household duties and engage in sexual relations before the men leave and dissolve the marriage.

An Indonesian bride in traditional attire. Photo from Pexels

A woman using the alias Cahaya shared with the Los Angeles Times that she has been married at least 15 times to Middle Eastern tourists since she was 17.

She typically earns between $300 and $500 per marriage, after the agency takes its cut, and uses the money to cover rent and care for her sick grandparents.

Now 28, she keeps her involvement in these marriages secret by telling her friends and family that she works as a housekeeper. She even lies to her boyfriend, deleting incriminating messages to hide the truth. "It's all torture," she admitted. "All I had in mind, every time, was I wanted to go home."

Another woman, Nisa, who had entered into over 20 temporary marriages, left the practice after marrying an Indonesian immigration officer. She now has two sons and vows never to return to her former life.

These temporary marriages are not legally recognized in Indonesia, as they conflict with the country's marriage laws, which are meant to support long-term, stable relationships. Violating these laws can lead to fines, imprisonment, and social or religious repercussions.

After Chinese media covered this practice, it ignited discussions on Weibo, with one commenter suggesting that to change the women's circumstances, "they need to be empowered through education and skills to become self-sufficient."