Public Caning in Aceh: A Controversial Punishment Under Review

In Aceh province, Indonesia, two men were publicly caned for a same-sex relationship. This practice, under Islamic Sharia law, has sparked condemnation from Amnesty International, urging the government to end these human rights violations. Aceh remains the only province criminalizing homosexuality in Indonesia.

In a highly controversial event, two young men in Aceh province, Indonesia, were publicly caned for engaging in a same-sex relationship. The act prompted Amnesty International to call for an immediate cessation of this punishment method.

Despite legal challenges faced by the LGBTQ community across predominantly Muslim Indonesia, Aceh stands as the sole province where homosexuality is criminalized under Islamic Sharia law, leading to public caning as punishment. The recent incident involved university students aged 18 and 24, who underwent the punishment in a government hall.

Following their caning of 77 and 82 lashes respectively, Amnesty International condemned the act as a 'horrifying act of discrimination' and called for the revocation of flogging-related bylaws. Meanwhile, calls for legal reform continue as the province also punishes other activities like gambling with similar severity.