Couple publicly caned in Aceh, Indonesia, for TikTok intimacy

A 22-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were subjected to public caning in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, after being convicted of violating Sharia law. The pair was filmed kissing in a car during a live stream on TikTok, which went viral in February and triggered an investigation. Local authorities confirmed the couple received 21 lashes each as punishment for intimacy between unmarried individuals. During the process, the woman collapsed and lost consciousness, necessitating a medical evaluation before the punishment could continue. Under local regulations in the autonomous province of Aceh, corporal punishment is postponed if medical intervention is required but remains mandatory. Police official Muhammad Rizal stated this was the first instance where social media activity led to a Sharia-based public caning. The couple was among six individuals punished that day, with others receiving up to 28 lashes for separate intimacy offenses. Aceh is the only province in Indonesia that officially implements Sharia law as part of its special autonomy status.