Authorities in Indonesia’s Aceh province on Wednesday carried out public caning of a man and woman who were found guilty of having sexual relations outside of marriage — an offence under the region’s strict application of Islamic law.
Each of the two individuals received 100 lashes in a park located in the capital city, Banda Aceh, as part of a sentence handed down by a sharia court.
Under Aceh’s religious laws, such acts are criminal offences and are punishable by public flogging.
A female officer administered the punishment to the woman, while a crowd of onlookers watched the event unfold.
Although Indonesia’s national government passed a law in 2022 criminalizing sex outside wedlock, that law is not expected to take effect until 2026.
Aceh, however, has enforced sharia law independently since it was granted special autonomy in 2001 following years of armed conflict.
In addition to the couple, three other individuals were also punished on the same day for engaging in online gambling and consuming alcohol — receiving a combined 49 lashes.
“This punishment is carried out as a reminder to the wider public,” said Banda Aceh Mayor Illiza Sa’aduddin Djamal.
“We hope it encourages those involved to repent and serves as a deterrent to others.”
Medical staff were present at the site to assist any of those punished if needed.
Despite condemnation from international rights organizations, the practice of public flogging remains common in Aceh and continues to receive strong local support as a form of moral discipline.
Crimes such as adultery, gambling, drinking, and same-sex relations are frequently prosecuted under religious codes.
Earlier this year, two men were caned more than 150 times after being convicted of engaging in homosexual activity, which is illegal in the province.
Aceh remains the only region in Indonesia allowed to enforce Islamic law, which it began implementing over two decades ago as part of a peace deal to end separatist unrest.
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