Couples in Aceh, Indonesia, receive caning for public displays of affection during TikTok live stream

In Banda Aceh, Aceh, several individuals faced public caning as punishment for violating Islamic Sharia law. The punishments, ranging from 10 to 30 lashes, were carried out on Thursday in Taman Bustanussalatin.

Among those punished were couples convicted of 'ikhtilath,' a term referring to illicit relations between a man and a woman who are not married. This included a couple caught kissing while live-streaming on the social media platform TikTok.

The sentences were handed down by the Syariah Court of Banda Aceh as part of the enforcement of Qanun Jinayat, Aceh's regional Islamic law. The executions were conducted in an open space, in accordance with local regulations.

Aceh is unique in Indonesia as the only province authorized to implement Sharia law. Its legal framework, Qanun Jinayat, categorizes various acts, including same-sex relations and extramarital affairs, as violations punishable under its specific legal code. The caning serves as a visible form of law enforcement within the province's distinct legal system.