An Indonesian couple has been publicly caned with 100 lashes each after being found guilty of engaging in premarital sex under the strict Islamic laws enforced in Aceh province.
The punishment was carried out in Banda Aceh, where authorities implement Sharia law, making it the only region in Indonesia with such legal provisions.
The couple was sentenced after being convicted by a Sharia court for violating laws prohibiting intimate relations outside marriage.
Officials said the caning was conducted in the presence of a crowd, as part of efforts to deter others from committing similar offences.
The punishment is typically administered with a rattan cane and carried out in stages, with medical personnel on standby.
Aceh authorities maintain that the enforcement of Sharia law reflects the values and beliefs of the predominantly Muslim population in the province.
However, human rights groups have repeatedly criticised the practice, describing it as cruel and inhumane.
Public caning remains a controversial aspect of Aceh’s legal system, drawing international attention and debate over human rights and cultural autonomy.
