Indonesian Couple Publicly Flogged 100 Times For Having Sex Outside Marriage

A man and woman were publicly flogged 100 times each in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province today after being found guilty of engaging in sexual relations outside of marriage. The punishment, carried out under strict Islamic law, took place in a public park in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, as a small crowd watched on.

Aceh is the only region in Indonesia that enforces Sharia law, which criminalizes extramarital sex. While Indonesia passed a national law banning sex outside of marriage in 2022, that legislation is not set to take effect until next year.

Local authorities defended the flogging, stating that it serves as a moral lesson for the community. Banda Aceh Mayor Illiza Sa’aduddin Djamal emphasized that the punishment is intended to encourage repentance among offenders.

However, human rights organizations have strongly condemned the practice, calling it inhumane and draconian. Critics argue that public flogging violates fundamental human rights and fuels concerns about Indonesia’s legal system.