Aceh implements 100 lashes as punishment for gay conduct

Aceh implements 100 lashes as punishment for gay conduct

THE Indonesian province of Aceh implemented new legislation over the weekend that included 100 lashes of the cane as punishment for homosexuality.

The law — which is part of the province’s implementation of Islamic sharia code and known as qanun jinaya, according to SBS News — also punishes for alcohol consumption, gambling, rape, social mixing between unmarried men and women, and sexual acts outside of marriage.

While people caught engaged in pre-marital, extramarital or gay sex face up to 100 lashes of the cane, a fine of one kilogram of gold, or 100 months in prison, an unmarried couple caught kissing could get 30 lashes, a fine of 300 grams of gold or a prison term of up to 30 months.

However, Ramli Sulaiman, chairman of the parliamentary commission that drafted the law, told AAP that there must be at least four witnesses who saw the acts themselves, along with clear evidence.

“We can’t just accuse people of having extramarital or homosexual sex,” he said.

Non-Muslims — including tourists visiting the provence — are also subject to the law, according to Fairfax Media.

However, Sulaiman said non-Muslims can choose to either be to be punished under sharia law or secular national law.

Human rights group Amnesty International has described the laws as an “enormous step backwards”.

156 people have reportedly been caned in Aceh since 2010 for gambling, mixing with the opposite sex, selling food during Ramadan and other offences.

Aceh won autonomy — and the right to impose Sharia codes — in 2001 as part of a deal with Jakarta to pacify attempts independence. A peace deal was finally signed in 2005, ending decades of conflict that had claimed over 13,000 lives.

The southeast Asian state of Brunei has also international criticism for imposing a more severe set of homophobic laws earlier this year.

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5 responses to “Aceh implements 100 lashes as punishment for gay conduct”

  1. WARNING: Australia watch out!

    I have said this as a warning all along for years. This is what will happen if Muslims are allowed into Australia. They bring their Sharia law with them that is an act of sheer terrorism against the Australian freedoms and way of life – especially LGBTI Australians such as me, my partner and others!

  2. Maybe a bit extreme but they should use the cane in Australia as the laws here are a joke. Our streets would be safer of a night time and people would learn to do the right thing