A couple in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, was flogged 100 times each for adultery under strict Sharia laws on September 17, 2026. The woman collapsed during the punishment after begging for mercy. Additionally, eight others received between 16 and 21 lashes for intermingling at a birthday party, which is prohibited under local Sharia law. The canings were held publicly as a form of shaming, drawing crowds that recorded the events on their phones. Human rights groups criticize these practices for causing psychological damage beyond physical pain.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
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Story summary
In Banda Aceh, the capital of the Indonesian province of Aceh, a couple was flogged 100 times each for adultery under strict Sharia laws in September 2026. The caning occurred on Thursday and was so severe that the woman begged for mercy before collapsing from pain during the punishment. Both individuals were convicted by the Banda Aceh Sharia Court last month, with sentences of 100 lashes imposed due to extramarital relations. In Aceh, which is unique in Indonesia as it administers Sharia law, unmarried couples are prohibited from having sex, and caning is used for various offenses such as gambling, drinking alcohol, homosexual acts, and premarital sex.
Written for “Sharia Caning For Adultery” on 2026-09-17,
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A couple was flogged 100 times each for adultery under an Indonesian province's strict Sharia laws.
The caning in Banda Aceh on Thursday was so severe that the woman was seen begging for mercy before collapsing from the pain.
The couple was convicted of adultery and were sentenced to 100 lashes each by the Banda Aceh Sharia Court last month.
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couple → see → Court
Unmarried couples are not allowed to have sex under the harsh laws in the region of Aceh, which is the only place in Muslim-majority Indonesia to administer Sharia law.
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which → allow → law
Caning is used to punish a wide range of offences, including gambling, drinking alcohol, homosexual acts, and having sexual relations outside marriage.
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Caning → use → marriage
Images from the public caning today showed the woman grimacing in pain and holding her hand up as she pleaded for mercy while she received lashes on her back.
However, later pictures showed the woman being helped off the ground after she collapsed to her knees.
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she → show → knees
Images of her partner also showed him wincing as he was struck.
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he → show → partner
A woman grimaces in pain while serving a public caning sentence in Taman Sari, Banda Aceh, Aceh Province, Indonesia, on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, for adultery
Officers assist the convicted woman after she received 100 lashings
Pictured:
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she → grimace → lashings
A man found guilty of adultery under Sharia law grimaces in pain as he is whipped 100 times
According to local news outlet AJNN, the man's caning was halted temporarily after he received 60 lashes over concerns for his health.
uncertain
he → find → health
Head of the General Crimes Section of the Banda Aceh District Attorney's Office, Darma Mustika, said: 'Perhaps his health was a little compromised, or he simply couldn't handle the whipping.
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he → say → whipping
So we stopped him first to give him a chance to rest.'
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we → stop → chance
The caning then resumed until the man received 100 lashes in total.
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man → resume → total
The couple was among a group of 10 people who received lashings on Thursday.
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who → receive → Thursday
The remaining eight convicts - men and women - were sentenced to between 16 and 21 lashes after being found guilty of intermingling at a birthday party.
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convicts → remain → party
Under Sharia law, the mixing of men and women who are unrelated is strictly forbidden.
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who → forbid → men
The public nature of canings in Aceh is intended to shame as well as inflict pain on people found to have violated Sharia law.
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nature → intend → law
Canings are often staged outside mosques or in community squares, with crowds watching and documenting the event on their mobile phones.
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crowds → stag → phones
The woman puts her hands to her face after she received 100 lashes
Pictured:
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she → put → lashes
A man reacts in pain as he is whipped 100 times.
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he → react → pain
The caning was halted temporarily over concerns about his health
Pictured:
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caning → halt → health
A separate man who was accused of intermingling with women at a birthday party was also lashed on Thursday
The public nature of canings in Aceh is intended to shame as well as inflict pain on people found to have violated Sharia law
Human rights groups say the humiliation adds to the cruelty and causes lasting psychological damage.
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humiliation → accuse → damage
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly condemned the practice, saying it violates Indonesia's constitution and its obligations under international law.
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it → condemn → law
Amnesty said in a statement: 'Caning contravenes Indonesia's constitution and is in clear violation of international human rights law and standards.
'
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Caning → say → law
It constitutes a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and can amount to torture in violation of the UN Convention against Torture and other international covenants, to which Indonesia is a State Party.'
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Indonesia → constitute → which
Local officials have defended the practice as a deterrent and as part of the province's identity, while critics warn it has negatively impacted Indonesia's human rights reputation and inflicted lasting trauma on those who endure it.
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who → defend → it
Just weeks ago, a woman became the first person to be publicly caned in Aceh for 'committing obscenity live with a man on social media.'
The punishment was handed down after she and her partner were accused of kissing during a TikTok livestream.
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she → become → livestream
Images showed the woman kneeling and screaming in agony as a masked Sharia police officer repeatedly brought the cane down across her back.
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officer → show → back
The woman eventually lost consciousness and had to receive medical attention.
Her partner was also caned over the TikTok livestream.
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partner → lose → livestream
The Aporia
