But is it a crime that warrants imprisonment or even caning? That would be excessive,” said Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia.
Aceh is the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia that enforces its own version of Islamic law.
The central government granted this autonomy in 2006 as part of a peace deal to end a separatist conflict.
Since 2015, the regulations have also applied to non-Muslim residents, who make up about 1% of the population.
Under local ordinances, morality-related offenses such as adultery and gay sex can result in up to 100 lashes.
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Caning is also used for gambling, alcohol consumption, women wearing tight clothing, and men missing Friday prayers.
