Indonesian Couple Caned 140 Times Publicly for Adultery
Is Aceh's public caning a human rights violation or a legitimate expression of Islamic law and regional will?
Above: Health workers examine the woman during the process of flogging in Aceh, Indonesia, on Jan. 29, 2026. Image credit: Riza Azhari/NurPhoto/Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
State-sanctioned flogging is a disturbing violation of fundamental human rights that cannot be justified by regional autonomy. Criminalizing intimate relationships between consenting adults amounts to government-sponsored cruelty and discrimination. Aceh's implementation of such punishments crosses the line from cultural practice to human rights abuse.
Right narrative
Public caning serves as a legitimate deterrent that reflects the will of Aceh's population, who overwhelmingly support these punishments for violations of Islamic law. The practice maintains social order by publicly shaming those who break clear religious rules against premarital sex and adultery. Sharia law provides a well-established legal framework that Muslims must follow.