Sex between consenting same-sex men and women can now attract 100 lashes as punishment in the Indonesian province of Aceh.
The law that was introduced in 2014 is only now being enforced and affects Muslim women and men, whether they are local or visiting the province. The province has become steadily stricter and is allowed to implement Sharia law under an agreement with the national government made in 2001.
Provincial Sharia chief Syahrizal Abbas told the AFP news agency,
“The law is to safeguard human dignity. It is to protect Aceh’s Muslims from committing immoral acts,”
What does Sharia Law Mean?
Islam’s legal system, derived from the Koran
Informs every aspect of Muslims’ lives
Islamic jurists issue formal guidance through fatwas, or religious edicts
Sharia law includes provisions for capital and corporal punishment but modern scholars say getting to that stage can be difficult
Marriage is treated as a contract in Islam
From The BBC
Sex between same-sex couples is not illegal in the rest of Indonesia except in South Sumatra. LGBT equality in Indonesia is generally poor with little or no protection in cases of discrimination or specific rights protecting the LGBT community.
