Active Support from Residents
Aceh Province, Indonesia's Only Region Applying Sharia Law
On the 28th, a man in Aceh Province, Sumatra Island, Indonesia, is being caned 77 times on charges of homosexuality. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Another public caning was carried out in Aceh Province on Sumatra Island, Indonesia, which follows Islamic fundamentalism.
According to the daily Kompas on the 29th, six individuals?homosexuals, alcohol offenders, and adulterous couples?were sequentially whipped on their backs with rattan canes at Taman Sari Park in Banda Aceh, Aceh Province, the previous afternoon.
Dozens of citizens gathered in the park to watch the caning execution.
Two men aged 27 and 29 were arrested by the police following a report from a neighbor that they engaged in homosexual relations.
They were each sentenced to 80 lashes, but considering their detention period, they received 77 lashes each.
During the caning, they could not endure the severe pain and pleaded for a brief pause. After drinking water, they received the remaining lashes.
A mother watching her son being caned for homosexuality fainted briefly.
The other four received 40 lashes for alcohol offenses and 17 lashes for adultery offenses.
Meanwhile, Aceh Province is the only region in Indonesia applying Sharia (Islamic customary law), with 98% of its 5 million residents being Muslim.
In Aceh, sexual violence, alcohol consumption, gambling, adultery, homosexuality, premarital sex, and public displays of affection are punished by public caning.
Women wearing tight clothing and men who skip Friday joint prayers also receive public caning.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, caning executions continue.
Human rights organizations are urging to stop public caning, but Aceh residents actively support it.
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