Indonesia: Court Sentences 2 Men to 80 Lashes Each for Gay Sex

An Islamic Shariah court in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province sentenced two men to 80 lashes each after Islamic religious police caught them engaged in what the court deemed to be gay sexual acts. The trial took place on Monday and the men were found guilty of violating Shariah law, which strictly prohibits homosexuality. The public caning is a common form of punishment in Aceh, the only Indonesian province that implements Shariah law. The court’s decision has sparked outrage among human rights activists and the LGBTQ+ community, who condemn the cruel and discriminatory treatment of individuals based on their sexual orientation.