In Indonesia’s Aceh province, a chilling act of discrimination unfolded as two university students faced public flogging for engaging in consensual same-sex relations. Amnesty International’s Montse Ferrer condemned this barbaric punishment, emphasising that such intimate acts between consenting adults should never be criminalised. The students suffered not only a grave invasion of privacy, ambushed in their own rented room, but also a cruel public humiliation and physical harm by their community.
Ferrer described the flogging as inherently cruel, inhuman, and degrading, likening it to torture. She called upon both the local authorities of Aceh and the Indonesian government to take urgent steps to abolish these inhumane practices and overturn the discriminatory bylaws that permit them. According to international human rights standards, these laws starkly contradict Indonesia’s constitutional obligations and must be aligned with global human rights norms.
The incidents highlight the unique imposition of Sharia law in Aceh, where such flagrant violations are allowed. The two men faced a severe punishment, with one receiving 77 lashes and the other 82 for facilitating their consensual relationship. This is just one of many instances, with 15 flogging sentences handed out this year alone, reflecting a worrying trend of discrimination against sexual minorities under strict local laws.
In a troubling escalation, Aceh’s Sharia police have not only continued to crack down on same-sex relations but also targeted the LGBTI community more broadly with patrols aiming to monitor and control their activities. This atmosphere of fear and oppression stands in stark contrast to the rights and dignity owed to every individual, urging urgent action from all levels of government to protect human rights.
Two university students in Aceh, Indonesia, were publicly flogged for consensual same-sex relations, a punishment condemned by Amnesty International as cruel and discriminatory. The incident highlights the enforcement of harsh Sharia law in Aceh, which has led to numerous similar cases and further crackdowns on the LGBTI community. Advocates call for the abolition of such laws in line with international human rights standards.
The public flogging of two men in Aceh not only exemplifies extreme discrimination against the LGBTI community in Indonesia, but it also calls into question the compatibility of local Sharia laws with international human rights standards. It emphasises the urgent need for law reforms and the protection of individuals’ rights regardless of their sexual orientation, underscoring the ongoing struggle against such inhumane practices.
Original Source: www.amnesty.org
