International human rights organizations have expressed strong condemnation following the public flogging of two men in Indonesia’s Aceh province, convicted under Islamic criminal law for same-sex relations. Amnesty International was among those who criticized the event, describing it as a state-sanctioned act of discrimination. Aceh, situated on the northern tip of Sumatra island, is Indonesia’s only province enforcing such laws, granted through its special autonomy status. Established in 2015, these bylaws criminalize acts including adultery, gambling, alcohol consumption, and same-sex relations, with penalties reaching up to 200 lashes.
The two men, aged 20 and 21, were subjected to 76 lashes each in front of a public audience, some of whom recorded the abuse in Banda Aceh. Montse Ferrer, Amnesty’s Regional Research Director, called the event a disturbing demonstration of institutionalized abuse faced by LGBTQ+ communities in the province. Amnesty has long urged Indonesia to repeal these laws, arguing they violate international commitments like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention Against Torture, which Indonesia has ratified.
Despite international outcry, Aceh authorities claim these laws preserve local customs and Islamic values. The central government in Jakarta has often deferred to Aceh’s autonomy, although critics argue this compromises Indonesia’s constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination. Such incidents highlight the tension between Indonesia’s decentralized legal system and its global human rights obligations.
Efforts by human rights organizations to pressure the Indonesian government into abolishing public canings and decriminalizing consensual same-sex relations continue. However, since the implementation of these Islamic criminal laws in 2015, Aceh has persistently carried out public punishments for what it describes as morality offenses. This ongoing situation reflects a challenging landscape for advocates of human rights within the country’s unique legal and cultural framework.