Banda Aceh: An Islamic Shariah court in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province has sentenced two men to 80 lashes in public after Islamic religious police accused them of engaging in same-sex acts, a ruling that has drawn international concern over human rights in the region.
Closed-door trial ends in harsh punishment
The Islamic Shariah District Court in Banda Aceh delivered the verdict on Monday after a closed-door hearing, which was restricted from public attendance due to the case being classified under adultery-related offences. Judges in Aceh have the discretion to limit public access to trials in such cases, opening proceedings only for the announcement of the verdict.
Arrest at city park
The two men, aged 20 and 21, were arrested in April when residents claimed to have seen them enter the same bathroom at Taman Sari city park in Banda Aceh. The residents alerted the Shariah police, who were patrolling nearby. Officers reportedly forced open the bathroom door and found the men kissing and hugging — behaviour the court classified as a sexual act under Aceh’s strict interpretation of Islamic law.
Aceh’s Shariah law and previous cases
Aceh, widely regarded as more devout than other parts of Muslim-majority Indonesia, is the only province permitted to enforce its own version of Islamic Shariah law. This special status was granted as part of a peace deal in 2005 to end a decades-long separatist conflict.
Since implementing Shariah law in 2015, Aceh has carried out public canings for various offences, including gambling, adultery, and alcohol consumption. Monday’s ruling marks the fifth time that individuals have been publicly caned for homosexuality under these laws.
No national law against homosexuality
Indonesia’s national criminal code does not criminalise homosexuality, and the central government does not have the authority to overturn Shariah-based regulations in Aceh. This legal autonomy means that the province’s religious laws operate alongside, and in some cases override, national statutes.
Human rights concerns
Rights groups have repeatedly criticised Aceh’s public caning punishments, particularly against LGBTQ+ individuals, calling them degrading and in violation of international human rights agreements to which Indonesia is a signatory. Advocacy organisations warn that such rulings contribute to a climate of fear and discrimination against sexual minorities in the province.
Looking ahead
Despite mounting criticism, Aceh’s religious authorities have shown no sign of easing enforcement of Shariah law. The sentencing of the two young men highlights ongoing tensions between local religious regulations and broader human rights principles, a divide that continues to attract global scrutiny.