Two men were publicly caned in Indonesia’s Aceh province on Tuesday, August 26, after a Sharia court convicted them of engaging in homosexual acts. Each man endured 76 lashes with a rattan cane, a punishment reduced from the original 80 lashes due to time already spent in custody. The caning took place in Banda Aceh’s main park before a large crowd, many of whom recorded the event on their phones.

Aceh is the only region in Indonesia where Sharia law is fully enforced, criminalizing homosexuality as well as offenses such as adultery, drinking alcohol, and gambling. On the same day, three women and five men were also flogged for alleged violations, including sex outside of marriage and online betting. Despite international criticism, public caning remains strongly supported in Aceh as a cultural and religious enforcement tool.

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SOURCE: NDTV