Key Takeaways:
- Two men were publicly flogged in Aceh, Indonesia, for having a gay relationship.
- Gay sex is illegal in Aceh under strict Islamic law, but legal elsewhere in Indonesia.
- Each man received dozens of lashes in a public park.
- Rights groups criticize this as part of growing LGBTQ+ discrimination.
Public Flogging in Aceh for Gay Relationship
In a recent event that sparked global concern, two men in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province were publicly flogged for their sexual relationship. This punishment was carried out under Aceh’s strict Islamic law, where gay sex is outlawed, unlike the rest of Indonesia.
The Incident and Trial
The men were caught in November 2023 after locals raided their rented room in Banda Aceh. They were then taken to sharia police. The court sentenced one man to 82 lashes and the other to 77, though their time in detention reduced these sentences slightly. The flogging was held in a public park, drawing a crowd, and medical services were on standby.
Human Rights Groups React
Rights advocates are calling out this punishment as discriminatory. Organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International expressed strong objections, with one expert describing the discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in Aceh as relentless.
Aceh’s Strict Laws
Aceh enforces sharia law as part of its special autonomy granted in 2001 to address past separatist movements. This law leads to severe punishments for various offenses, gaining support from locals despite international criticism.
Mixed Reactions
While there’s significant backlash from human rights groups, many in Aceh support such punishments, seeing them as a necessary deterrent.
Other Punishments Carried Out
On the same day, two other men were flogged for online gambling, highlighting the broader use of caning in Aceh for different offenses.
A Broader Issue
This incident underscores the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Indonesia, raising questions about human rights and equality under the law.