Indonesian Province OKs 100 Lashes For Residents Practicing Gay Sex

The Indonesian

province of Aceh approved on Saturday a law that punishes people engaged in gay sex with caning. The new law covers followers of Islam and non-Muslims too and even foreigners.

The outgoing 69-member assembly approved the law on its last day of work. It grants the province authority to implement a version of the Islamic Sharia law as part of a peace agreement in 2001 to end the moves for separation from the national government.

Under the law, men who indulge in anal sex or sodomy and women who rub their body parts against each other could be punished with up to 100 lashes. It adds to existing Aceh laws that had impose flogging for people convicted of adultery, gambling, drinking alcohol, not participating in Muslim prayers on Friday and the wearing of tight clothing by women.

In response to the new law, human rights activists called for its repeal because it is "an enormous step backwards." Amnesty International (AI) called on the Indonesian province to end caning.

"The crminalisation of individuals based on their sexual orientation is a huge blow for equality in Indonesia," ABC quoted AI Asia-Pacific Director Richard Bennett. He added that the new law would further boost the "climate of homophobia, fear and harassment" that many Aceh residents already face.

The law, however, needs the final approval of the national Home Affairs Ministry, which last week hinted it may overturn the law over human rights violation concerns.

Outside Aceh, gay sex is not illegal in Indonesia even if it is a predominant Muslim country. Caning is also a practice in Singapore.

YouTube/May442