Aceh Couple Publicly Caned 140 Times in Severe Sharia Punishment

A couple was publicly caned 140 times each in Indonesia's Aceh province for engaging in sex outside marriage and consuming alcohol. This punishment, which occurred on Thursday, is believed to be one of the most severe since the region adopted Islamic law.

Sexual relations outside marriage are prohibited in Aceh, which is the only Indonesian province to implement a version of Sharia law. The man and woman were struck on their backs with a rattan stick in a public park, observed by numerous individuals. The woman fainted after her punishment and was subsequently transported to an ambulance.

Severity of Punishment

According to Muhammad Rizal, head of Banda Aceh's Sharia police, the couple received 100 lashes for sex outside marriage and 40 lashes for alcohol consumption.

This total is considered among the highest number of cane lashes administered since Sharia was implemented following Aceh's grant of special autonomy in 2001.

Enforcement Across the Board

Among six individuals flogged for violating the Islamic code were a Sharia police officer and his female partner, who were found in close proximity in a private setting. This couple received 23 strikes each. Rizal stated that no exceptions are made, even for police members, acknowledging that such incidents "tarnish our name."

Broad Support and Provincial Autonomy

Caning is a form of punishment with strong local support in Aceh for various offenses, including gambling, alcohol consumption, same-sex relations, and sex outside marriage. Men can also face caning for not attending Friday prayers. In the previous year, two men were publicly flogged 76 times each after being convicted of sexual relations, having been observed hugging and kissing in a public restroom.

While no national law in Indonesia prohibits homosexual relations, the federal government is unable to intervene in Aceh's Sharia law enforcement due to the autonomy granted to the province in 2001.