Two Men Publicly Flogged in Aceh Under Strict Islamic Law
In Indonesia’s Aceh province, two men faced public flogging on Thursday after being convicted of same-sex relations under Islamic law.
While homosexuality is not illegal in most parts of Indonesia, Aceh enforces a version of sharia law that prohibits same-sex activity.
The punishment took place in a public park in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital, just before midday. One man, identified as the instigator, received 82 lashes, while the other was caned 77 times. Their sentences were reduced by three lashes to account for the time they had already spent in detention.
The two individuals—both university students—were arrested in November after locals raided a rented room and reported them to the sharia police.
Global Condemnation and Calls for Change
The incident has sparked outrage among human rights organizations, who condemned the punishment as discriminatory and inhumane.
Andreas Harsono, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, criticized the ongoing persecution of LGBTQ individuals in Aceh. “The systematic discrimination and abuse against LGBTQ individuals in Aceh must end,” he stated, urging authorities to reconsider their laws.
Amnesty International also denounced the flogging, calling it a “shocking violation of human rights.” Montse Ferrer, the organization’s Deputy Regional Director, emphasized that “consensual relationships between adults should never be criminalized.”
Flogging Used for Various Offenses in Aceh
On the same day, two other men were flogged for online gambling—one receiving 34 lashes and the other eight. Medical personnel were on standby for all individuals subjected to the punishment.
Aceh remains the only region in Indonesia where religious law is enforced alongside national law. Public caning is commonly used as punishment for offenses such as gambling, alcohol consumption, and adultery. The practice has continued since Aceh was granted special autonomy in 2001, a move aimed at ending a long-running separatist conflict.
