Woman Faints After Aceh Caning

A woman and her partner were publicly caned 100 times each in Indonesia — Banda Aceh, Indonesia, for engaging in sexual relations outside marriage under strict Sharia law. The woman fainted during the punishment and had to be carried away. This event highlights the ongoing enforcement of Sharia law in Indonesia — Aceh, the only Indonesian province to do so, which also punishes gambling, alcohol consumption, and homosexual acts with public caning. Human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned these practices as cruel, inhuman, and degrading, violating international human rights standards and Indonesia's constitution. Despite international criticism, local authorities, including Muhammad Rijal, head of Indonesia — Banda Aceh's Sharia police, defend the punishments as essential to Indonesia — Aceh's religious and cultural identity and a deterrent to immoral behavior. The federal government of Indonesia cannot intervene due to Indonesia — Aceh's autonomy granted in 2001.