Aceh's 21 lashes for TikTok kiss: local support vs rights outrage

In Aceh, Indonesia, the only province enforcing sharia law under its Islamic Criminal Code (Qanun Jinayat), an unmarried couple received 21 lashes each on July 2 in Banda Aceh after being accused of kissing in a car and live-streaming it on TikTok. Footage of the public caning went viral, showing the man (22) and woman (25) grimacing with each blow; the woman later burst into tears. Rights groups condemned the punishment as inhumane torture, and the incident once again drew international attention to Aceh's unique legal status.

However, inside Aceh, the reaction is far more complex. For many residents, caning is not solely a human rights issue but is intertwined with religion, local identity, and the province's semi-autonomous status. The Qanun Jinayat was enacted in 2004 as part of a peace deal ending a long civil conflict, giving Aceh autonomy in exchange for ending the independence struggle. While support for the punishment is not universal, even those who back it often disagree on its application—such as the severity or the type of offenses. The debate reflects deep tensions between global human rights norms and local traditions, with many Acehnese viewing the law as a hard-won right of self-governance.