Authorities in Indonesia’s Aceh province publicly flogged two men 76 times each on Tuesday, August 26, after a sharia court found them guilty of engaging in same-sex relations.
The flogging took place in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital, before a crowd that gathered to witness the punishment.
Aceh is the only region in Indonesia that enforces strict Islamic law under a special autonomy agreement, allowing public caning for offenses such as adultery, gambling, alcohol consumption, and homosexual acts.
Officials from Aceh’s Islamic Sharia Agency confirmed that the men had been convicted earlier this month and the punishment was carried out in line with local regulations.
Rights groups have repeatedly criticized the practice, describing it as cruel and degrading, but authorities in Aceh maintain it is a deterrent in line with religious values.
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Indonesia does not criminalize same-sex relations nationally, but Aceh’s unique legal status permits the enforcement of Islamic criminal law.
This has drawn international attention and condemnation from human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
Tuesday’s punishment highlights ongoing tensions between Indonesia’s national legal framework and Aceh’s regional autonomy, which continues to permit public floggings despite global pressure for reform.