Aceh Canes TikTok Couple 21 Times Each for Kiss, Drawing Rights Criticism
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 2
Aceh Canes TikTok Couple 21 Times Each for Kiss, Drawing Rights Criticism
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 2
Summary
A 22-year-old man and 25-year-old woman were publicly caned 21 times each in Banda Aceh after a Sharia court convicted them of kissing during a TikTok livestream.
The punishment stemmed from a 27 February video filmed in a car that went viral and triggered reports to sharia authorities; their original 25-lash sentences were cut because they had already spent four months in prison.
At least 100 people watched the caning in Bustanussalatin City Park, where officials also ordered a phone and USB drive containing the video destroyed; four others were caned the same day for gambling and adultery.
Aceh is Indonesia's only province enforcing Islamic law, a power granted in 2006 under a peace deal and expanded in 2015 to cover non-Muslims, with penalties of up to 100 lashes for morality offenses.
Amnesty International Indonesia called the caning cruel, inhumane and degrading, arguing the conduct may have been inappropriate for social media but did not justify imprisonment or corporal punishment.
Is Aceh's Sharia punishment a local exception or a preview of justice under Indonesia's new national criminal code?
When a TikTok video leads to public caning, how is social media empowering religious authorities?
Public Caning in Aceh: Sharia Law Enforcement, Societal Perspectives, and Human Rights Controversy in 2026
Overview
In July 2026, a young couple in Aceh was publicly caned for social media conduct that violated local religious and moral standards, highlighting the strict enforcement of Sharia law in the province. The punishment, witnessed by residents like Aini Nadhirah, was seen by some as justified and intended to serve as a warning to others about acceptable behavior online. This incident not only raised public awareness but also contributed to community education about moral boundaries, reflecting how public caning is used both as a deterrent and a tool for reinforcing social norms in Aceh.