Young couple in Indonesia's Aceh province publicly caned for kissing during a TikTok livestream, sentenced to 21 lashes.

A young couple in Indonesia's Aceh province was publicly caned 21 times each on July 2 after being convicted by a Sharia court for kissing during a TikTok livestream. The couple, aged 22 and 25, were arrested following a viral video from February 27, which led to complaints to local authorities.²³⁵⁶⁷

The punishment was witnessed by at least 100 people in Bustanussalatin City Park, where the caning was administered by individuals in robes and hoods. Initially sentenced to 25 lashes each, their punishment was reduced to 21 due to their four months in prison prior to the caning.⁴

Amnesty International Indonesia condemned the act as a violation of human rights, labeling it as cruel and degrading. Usman Hamid, the Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, questioned the severity of the punishment, stating, “Such behavior might be considered inappropriate... But is it a crime that warrants imprisonment or even caning? That would be excessive.”⁸

Aceh is unique in Indonesia for enforcing a strict interpretation of Islamic law, which allows for corporal punishment for morality offenses. The law has been expanded to apply to non-Muslims, who make up about 1% of the province's population. The public caning reflects a broader trend of using Sharia law to regulate behavior, particularly in the digital realm, as noted by Amnesty International spokesman Haeril Halim, who described the punishment as a “horrifying act of discrimination.”

The couple's case is part of a larger pattern of enforcement in Aceh, where authorities have increasingly targeted social media expressions deemed inappropriate under local laws.