Aceh Sharia Court Sentences Two Men to 80 Public Lashes for Same-Sex Acts

In Indonesia's Aceh province, an Islamic Shariah court sentenced two young men to 80 public lashes each for engaging in same-sex acts, following their arrest after being caught kissing and hugging in a public bathroom. The trial was held behind closed doors due to the sensitive nature of the case, with judges limiting public access to only the verdict. This sentence marks the fifth time since 2015 that Aceh has enforced public caning for homosexuality, a penalty unique to this province under its special autonomy to implement Shariah law. While homosexuality is not criminalized under Indonesia's national law, Aceh's religious-based legal system operates independently, and the central government cannot override its decisions. Human rights groups have condemned such punishments as violations of international human rights standards, urging Indonesia to end discriminatory treatment of the LGBTQ+ community. The implementation of these laws in Aceh is linked to a peace agreement with former separatist rebels, underscoring the province's distinct legal and cultural stance within Indonesia.