An unmarried couple in Indonesia has been punished with public caning after being found guilty of violating Islamic law in Aceh, the only region in the country that formally enforces Sharia-based regulations.
The punishment, carried out by local authorities, followed a court ruling that the pair breached Aceh’s moral laws, which prohibit intimate relations outside marriage. Officials said the sentence was executed in line with existing regional laws and procedures.
Public caning, while controversial, remains a legally sanctioned penalty under Aceh’s local governance framework. The practice has long drawn criticism from international human rights groups, who argue it is inhumane, while local authorities maintain it reflects the cultural and religious values of the region.
The incident has once again sparked global debate about human rights, religious law, and cultural autonomy, especially as Indonesia continues to balance its democratic identity with regional legal systems.
