In a recent public spectacle, two men in Indonesia's Aceh province were caned for engaging in sexual relations, highlighting the region's strict adherence to Shariah law. The sentencing, which saw one individual receive 85 strokes and the other 80, was carried out in Banda Aceh’s Bustanussalatin city park, with dozens of onlookers present. Following a remission for time spent in prison, they were ultimately caned 82 and 77 times, respectively.
The caning was executed by a team of five enforcers wearing robes and hoods, who whipped the men across their backs. The men received breaks every 20 strokes to hydrate, and their wounds were treated after the punishment concluded. One of the individuals was so weakened by the ordeal that he had to be carried away after the final lash.
The men were apprehended in November after residents suspected them of being gay. They were found naked and embracing in their rented room, leading local residents to hand them over to the Sharia police. The incident underscores Aceh's unique position as the only province in Indonesia practicing Shariah law, where homosexuality is criminalized.
Alongside the two men, two others faced punishment for gambling, receiving 34 and 8 strokes of the cane, respectively. Aceh's Shariah law also prescribes caning for offenses such as drinking alcohol, women wearing tight clothes, and men neglecting Friday prayers.
This event marks the fourth instance of public caning for homosexuality in Aceh since the province adopted Islamic law in 2006. Such practices continue to draw criticism from human rights organizations worldwide, which argue they violate basic human rights principles.
