In a public execution of Sharia law penalties, an unmarried couple was caned a combined 140 times each today in a park in Banda Aceh for engaging in sexual relations outside of marriage and consuming alcohol.
The punishment, one of the severest in recent years under Aceh's Islamic legal code, drew a crowd of onlookers and has sparked renewed debate over human rights and religious enforcement in the region.
The man and woman, whose identities have not been disclosed, were struck across the back with a rattan stick by Sharia police enforcers. Each received 100 lashes for the offense of sex outside marriage and an additional 40 lashes for drinking alcohol, totaling 140 strikes per person.
The woman reportedly fainted following her punishment and required medical assistance via ambulance. Muhammad Rizal, head of Banda Aceh's Sharia police, confirmed the details of the sentencing, emphasizing the role of such measures in upholding moral standards under Islamic law.
Aceh remains the only province in Indonesia where Sharia law is formally implemented, allowing for corporal punishments including caning for offenses such as adultery, gambling, and alcohol consumption.
While these practices enjoy significant local support as a means to promote ethical behavior and deter vices like womanizing and stealing, international human rights organizations have condemned them as acts of cruelty and violations of human dignity.
Amnesty International, for instance, has previously described similar canings as "inhumane" and called for their abolition, highlighting that Aceh's laws can impose up to 200 lashes for certain moral infractions.
This incident follows a pattern of public floggings in Aceh, with recent cases including punishments for same-sex relations and other non-marital intimacies. Local authorities maintain that these enforcements are essential to maintaining societal order, with Banda Aceh Mayor Illiza Sa’aduddin Djamal noting in past statements that such actions address a range of violations effectively.
Human rights advocates argue that these punishments not only inflict physical pain but also perpetuate stigma and fear, urging Indonesia's central government to intervene and align provincial laws with international standards. As global attention turns to this case, discussions on balancing religious autonomy with universal human rights continue to intensify.