24 May 2017

Two Men Caned for Gay Sex in Indonesia

Two men caned 83 times each in the Indonesian province of Aceh after being caught having sex.

Two men, aged 20 and 23, were caned in front of a jeering crowd in Indonesia’s Aceh province after they were caught having sex by vigilantes in March.

The punishment was delivered outside a mosque in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh with the crowd cheering as the caning took place.

"Let this be a lesson to you," one of the men watching cried out. "Do it harder," another man yelled, according to the BBC.

It is the first time gay men have been caned under Sharia law in the province, which allows up to 100 lashes for “morality” offences including homosexual sex, adultery, gambling, drinking alcohol, women who wear tight clothes and men who skip Friday prayers.

Human Rights Watch spoke out against the caning, saying the punishment constitutes torture under international law.

“These men had their privacy invaded in a frightening and humiliating manner and now face public torture for the 'crime' of their alleged sexual orientation,” said Phelim Kine, the group’s deputy Asia division director, according to The independent.

“The arrest and detention of these two men underscores the abuse imbedded in Aceh’s discriminatory, anti-LGBT ordinances.”

You can watch, somewhat distressing, footage of the punishment here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMqISKMNZdo