Country with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia is one of the most intolerant countries in the world towards homosexuality. According to the international agency Associated Press, the local police in the province of Aceh are expected to punish two men accused of having had gay sex with 23 lashes in public. In an alleged video, the two men, aged 20 and 2001, “confess” to being a couple. In the images, one of the victims appears naked, asking for help. The second tries to leave the room, but is stopped by the guards. According to chief Shariah investigator Marzuki, residents of Rukoh neighborhood were suspicious of the duo, who were often seen together in public. “Based on our investigation, witnesses and evidence, we can allege that they violated Islamic Shariah law and we can take them to court,” Marzuki told the AP. Although there is no national law criminalizing homosexuality in Indonesia, the province of Aceh applies Sharia law thanks to special autonomy granted by the government in 2016, when a separatist group rose up against the Executive. Since then, public floggings have become common in this community, especially those caught gambling, drinking alcohol, among others. In 339 alone, XNUMX cases were reported, according to the NGO The Institute of Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR). The ICJR issued a request to the central government for such punishments to be prohibited in that province.
