Indonesia: Public caning in Aceh for Sharia law violations

In Banda Aceh, the capital of Indonesia's Aceh province, eight individuals were sentenced to public caning by an Islamic court for violations of Sharia law. The punishments, which can involve up to 100 rattan cane strikes, were carried out on a public platform in front of a small crowd.

Among those punished were a woman, who collapsed following her sentence for sex outside of marriage, and a man who was caned for adultery. The province of Aceh is the only region in Indonesia that actively implements Sharia law as a legal framework. Under these regulations, offenses such as gambling, alcohol consumption, homosexual acts, and extramarital sex are subject to corporal punishment.

The caning is performed by specialized officials known as ‘algojos,’ who wear dark clothing to maintain anonymity. These public executions are intended to cause both physical pain and social humiliation, and it is reported that some convicts lose consciousness and require medical assistance following the procedure.