Aceh's Public Caning Raises Human Rights Concerns

Banda Aceh (Indonesia), Aug 26 (AP) — In a sobering demonstration of Aceh province's strict adherence to Islamic Shariah law, two men were publicly caned this week after being convicted by a Shariah court for engaging in acts deemed inappropriate under Islamic law. Witnessed by roughly 100 people, the men, aged 20 and 21, were subjected to dozens of lashes with a rattan cane in Bustanussalatin city park, Banda Aceh. These individuals were penalized for what the court argued were actions that could lead to prohibited sexual relations—specifically, hugging and kissing. The court ultimately sentenced each man to 80 lashes following their arrest in a public park bathroom in April, where residents had alerted authorities to their presence. Both met initially through an online dating app. Aceh is unique as Indonesia's sole Shariah-governed province, a law which allows up to 100 lashes for infractions including premarital sex, same-sex relationships, gambling, and neglecting Friday prayers. Other offenses penalized under this law affect women wearing tight clothing and consumption of alcohol. On the same day, eight others received canings for adultery and gambling offenses. Since Aceh introduced Islamic law in 2006, there have been multiple instances of caning connected to homosexuality, a shift that came to end a longstanding separatist conflict. While Indonesia's national law does not criminalize homosexuality, it cannot override Aceh's regulations, despite prior intervention to prevent harsher penalties such as stoning. In 2015, Aceh's Islamic bylaws were expanded to include non-Muslim residents, making about 1% of the population subject to Shariah law. Earlier this year, two other individuals were publicly caned for engaging in same-sex relations. Human rights organizations continue to challenge this practice. A 2016 petition to review Aceh's caning laws was dismissed by Indonesia's Supreme Court, though a Ministry of Home Affairs letter questioned the punishment's severity for minor offenses. Maidina Rahmawati of the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform notes that caning contradicts various human rights standards and laws Indonesia supports. Amnesty International also condemned the caning as an act of discrimination, asserting that consensual relationships should not be criminalized. Meanwhile, local resident Aulia Saputra voiced support, suggesting the punishment serves as a deterrent to would-be offenders.

This public display of corporal punishment underscores the ongoing tension between local religious mandates and international human rights perspectives.

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