On 2/7, an unmarried couple received their punishment in a park in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province, Indonesia. Local officials initiated an investigation and imposed the penalty after the two were accused of kissing in a video streamed on the TikTok app.

"They violated Islamic Sharia law," stated Muhammad Rizal, head of the Banda Aceh municipal moral police. "This marks the first time Aceh province has punished individuals for Sharia law violations on social media."

Individuals violating Islamic Sharia law were flogged in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia, on 2/7. Photo: AFP

Dozens witnessed the punishment, with some spectators urging the enforcers to "hit harder." On the same day, another couple received 27 lashes for public intimacy, while two other men were given 29 and 8 lashes, respectively, for gambling offenses.

According to Aceh provincial regulations, which make it the only province in Indonesia applying Sharia law, intimate acts such as kissing, hugging, or touching between unmarried men and women are prohibited. While caning is not an official punishment nationwide in Indonesia, it receives strong support in Aceh.

In May, Aceh officials sentenced two men and two women to 100 lashes each for extramarital sexual relations. Additionally, five other individuals were flogged for offenses including being in close proximity to the opposite sex and consuming alcohol.

Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, with approximately 87% of its population adhering to Islam. The country also recognizes five other religions and various indigenous beliefs.

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP, AP, Reuters)