Two Men Caned Publicly in Indonesia’s Aceh province for Same-Sex Relations Under Shariah Law
Two men in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province were publicly caned on Thursday after an Islamic Shariah court found them guilty of engaging in same-sex relations. The punishment, carried out in Banda Aceh’s Bustanussalatin city park, was witnessed by dozens of onlookers.
Harsh Punishment for Homosexuality
Aceh, the only province in Indonesia permitted to enforce Shariah law, has caned individuals for homosexuality four times since the Islamic legal system was introduced in 2006. The province operates under a religious legal framework as part of a peace agreement that ended a long-running separatist rebellion.
The two men, aged 24 and 18, were arrested in November after local residents suspected them of being gay. Residents broke into their rented room, found them naked and embracing, and reported them to the Shariah police.
On Monday, a Shariah court sentenced the men—both college students—to 85 and 80 strokes of the cane, respectively. However, after a remission for time already spent in prison, they received 82 and 77 lashes. The punishment was carried out by a team of five enforcers dressed in robes and hoods. The men were given breaks after 20 strokes to drink water and receive treatment for their wounds. One of them became too weak to move after the final lash and had to be carried away.
Other Punishments Under Aceh’s Strict Laws
Two additional individuals were also sentenced and caned on the same day—one received 34 strokes and another eight strokes for gambling offenses.
Aceh’s implementation of Islamic law intensified in 2015, extending its reach to non-Muslims, who make up about 1% of the province’s population. Under these regulations, individuals convicted of morality offenses—including same-sex relations, extramarital sex, gambling, drinking alcohol, and dress code violations—can receive up to 100 lashes. Men who skip Friday prayers and women who wear tight clothing are also subject to corporal punishment.
Human Rights Concerns and Legal Controversy
Indonesia’s national criminal code does not criminalize homosexuality, but the central government lacks the authority to overturn Aceh’s Shariah-based laws. Human rights groups have condemned the caning as a violation of international treaties that Indonesia has signed, which protect the rights of minorities.
While Aceh has continued enforcing harsh punishments under Shariah, pressure from Indonesia’s central government previously led to the removal of a provision in the law that would have allowed stoning as a punishment for adultery. Despite this, public caning remains a routine practice in the province, drawing widespread criticism from human rights organizations.
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