A 22-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were publicly caned in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, after a Sharia court convicted them of violating Islamic law by kissing during a TikTok livestream. The court sentenced each to 21 lashes following their arrest in April, an event that drew at least a hundred spectators in the province’s Bustanussalatin City Park.
Did You Know?
Aceh is the only province in Indonesia—a Muslim-majority nation—that enforces Islamic law. This legal framework was established in 2006 as part of a peace agreement to resolve a long-standing separatist conflict, and in 2015, the province expanded the law to include non-Muslim residents.
Legal context of the convictions
The couple faced charges after a video from February 27, showing them kissing in a car, went viral and triggered reports to local Sharia authorities. Although the court initially sentenced the pair to 25 lashes each, the penalty was reduced to 21 because they had already served four months in prison. During the proceedings, officials seized a cellphone and a USB flash drive containing the footage, ordering both to be destroyed as evidence.
The public caning in the park was carried out by individuals wearing robes and hoods. On the same day, four other individuals were also subjected to public caning for separate convictions involving online gambling and adultery.
Expert Insight: The human rights debate
Expert Insight: The case highlights a significant friction between regional autonomy and international human rights standards. While the Indonesian central government granted Aceh the authority to implement religious law, critics argue that these punishments conflict with broader national commitments. The central tension lies in whether morality-based offenses, such as public displays of affection, warrant physical punishment, or if such measures constitute an excessive response to social media activity.
What happens next
The use of caning in Aceh remains a regular feature of the provincial justice system. Under current regulations, the law permits up to 100 lashes for various morality offenses, including adultery and same-sex relations. Other activities, such as drinking alcohol, gambling, failing to attend Friday prayers, or women wearing attire deemed too tight, are also subject to corporal punishment. Given the existing legal framework, it is likely that authorities will continue to utilize public caning as a standard disciplinary measure for similar violations reported within the province.
Amnesty International Indonesia has condemned the practice, describing it as cruel, inhumane, and degrading. Usman Hamid, the organization’s executive director, stated that while social media content may be viewed as inappropriate, the use of imprisonment and caning for such actions is considered excessive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the couple caned?
They were convicted by a Sharia court for kissing while unmarried, an act captured in a viral TikTok livestream from February 27.
How many lashes did they receive?
The court ordered 21 lashes each, a reduction from the initial 25-lash sentence due to time already served in prison.
Does Islamic law in Aceh apply to everyone?
Yes, the law was expanded in 2015 to apply to all residents, including non-Muslims, who make up approximately 1% of the province’s population.
Do you believe digital conduct should be subject to the same legal standards as physical public behavior?