College students publicly caned for having gay sex in Indonesia
What's the story
Two men were publicly caned in Indonesia's Aceh province on Thursday after they were found guilty by an Islamic Shariah court of having gay sex. The punishment was administered at Banda Aceh's Bustanussalatin city park and was attended by dozens of people. This is the fourth case of public caning for homosexuality since Shariah law was introduced in Aceh in 2006.
Punishment execution
Details of the public caning punishment
The men, aged 24 and 18, were whipped dozens of times on their backs by a team of five enforcers in robes and hoods. After 20 strokes, they were given a break to drink water, and their wounds were treated. Initially sentenced to 85 and 80 strokes, respectively, by the Shariah court on Monday, their sentences were reduced due to time already served in prison.
Legal proceedings
Arrest and conviction under Aceh's shariah law
The men were arrested in November after residents suspected them to be gay. Reportedly, the residents found the men naked and hugging in their rented room, following which they were arrested by the Sharia police. Aceh is the only Indonesian province practicing Shariah law, a right given by the central government in 2006 as part of a peace deal to end a separatist rebellion.
Legal framework
Aceh's shariah law and its implications
The law in Aceh prescribes up to 100 lashes for offenses such as gay sex and sex between unmarried people. It also extends to non-Muslims, who constitute roughly 1% of Aceh's population. On the same day as the two men's caning, two others were also publicly caned for gambling offenses, receiving sentences of 34 and eight strokes each.
International criticism
Human rights groups criticize Aceh's Shariah law
Human rights groups have condemned Aceh's Shariah law for breaching international treaties Indonesia has signed to safeguard minority rights. Although Indonesia's national criminal code does not govern homosexuality, the central government has no power to overturn Aceh's Shariah laws. However, an earlier proposal for stoning as a punishment for adultery was scrapped under pressure from the central government.