Breaking News: A couple in Indonesia received 21 lashes each after being found guilty of violating local morality laws for a kiss shared during a TikTok livestream.
A young couple were publicly caned in Aceh, Indonesia, on Thursday after being convicted of breaching Islamic morality laws. The 22-year-old man and 25-year-old woman each received 21 strokes of the cane, having been detained in March and already serving four months in prison, according to the Associated Press. The punishment was reduced from a potential 25 lashes.
The pair were found guilty after filming a TikTok video inside a car which went viral and triggered outrage among residents. Authorities described the act as “immoral” and said it was reported by concerned citizens who were “disturbed by their immoral livestream content”, according to Sharia police officials. Evidence seized included a mobile phone and a USB drive containing the offending video, which officials stated would be destroyed (AP).
A local resident who witnessed the caning, Aini Nadhirah, stated that the punishment was “entirely justified”, serving as a warning against similar behaviour and “raising awareness” of unacceptable conduct (AP). Aceh is the only province in Indonesia to enforce Islamic Criminal Code, granted by the central government in 2005 as part of a peace agreement (AP).
The practice of caning, used for offences including adultery and gambling, has attracted criticism from human rights organisations. However, local authorities defend it, claiming it does not violate international conventions prohibiting cruel punishment (AP).
The couple’s case highlights the continued enforcement of strict sharia law in Aceh, and the consequences for perceived breaches of moral conduct.
What Happens Next
Further public canings are expected in Aceh for similar offences, with authorities continuing to monitor and enforce the Islamic Criminal Code.
Sources: Fox News, Associated Press.
