Two men were publicly flogged in the conservative Aceh province of Indonesia on Thursday following they were found guilty of sexual relations by a court operating under strict Islamic law. They were caught on 7 November 2024 by locals who coercively entered into their rented room in Banda Aceh and took them to the Sharia police for investigation.
The flogging took place in a park in Banda Aceh just before midday. One man, accused of initiating the relationship, received 82 lashes, while the other was punished with 77 strokes. And, both of them were caned with a rattan stick, according to AFP.
Authorities charged them with violating Sharia law, sparking condemnation from human rights activists, who denounced the punishment as part of ongoing discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in Indonesia.
In 2006, Indonesia’s secular central government granted Aceh the authority to enforce Islamic Sharia law as part of a peace agreement to end a separatist conflict. Since then, a religious police force and court system have been established, significantly strengthening Sharia law in the region. More than 100 people are publicly caned each year under these laws, according to Independent News.
In 2015, Aceh expanded its Islamic regulations and criminal code to apply to non-Muslims, who make up about 1 per cent of the population. The laws permit punishments of up to 100 lashes for morality-related offenses, including same-sex relations and sex outside marriage.
This marks the third instance of public caning for homosexuality in Aceh. Other offenses punishable by caning include gambling, alcohol consumption, women wearing tight clothing, and men failing to attend Friday prayers.
Human rights organisations have condemned the law, arguing that it violates international treaties that Indonesia has signed to protect minority rights. While the country’s national criminal code does not criminalize homosexuality, the central government lacks the authority to overturn Sharia law in Aceh. However, earlier provisions that proposed stoning for adultery were removed due to pressure from Jakarta.
