Activists condemn public flogging of two men under Indonesia’s Islamic criminal law

Amnesty International on Tuesday condemned the public caning of two men in Indonesia’s Aceh province after they were convicted of same-sex relations under Islamic criminal law.

Aceh, located on the northern tip of Sumatra island, is Indonesia’s only province that criminalizes consensual same-sex acts. Under its special autonomy status, Aceh enforces qanun jinayat, Islamic criminal bylaws introduced in 2015 that criminalize adultery, gambling, alcohol consumption, and same-sex relations, with punishments including up to 200 lashes.

Aceh, located on the northern tip of Sumatra island, is Indonesia’s only province with special autonomy to enforce qanun jinayat, a set of bylaws introduced in 2015 that criminalize acts such as adultery, gambling, alcohol consumption, and same-sex relations, prescribing punishments including lashes.

The men, aged 20 and 21, were publicly flogged 76 times each after the local Sharia court found them guilty of engaging in consensual same-sex activity. Spectators reportedly watched on, with some recording the abuse as it was carried out in Banda Aceh. 

Montse Ferrer, Amnesty International Regional Research Director, criticized the flogging, stating:

This public flogging of two young men under Aceh’s Islamic Criminal Code for consensual sex is a disturbing act of state-sanctioned discrimination and cruelty. This punishment is a horrifying reminder of the institutionalized stigma and abuse faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Aceh.

Amnesty has repeatedly urged Indonesia to repeal these laws, arguing they contravene the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention Against Torture, both of which Indonesia has ratified. The UN Human Rights Committee has previously called on the government to prohibit corporal punishment and protect LGBTQ+ persons from discrimination. 

Despite international criticism, Aceh authorities maintain that the qanun jinayat reflects local customs and Islamic values. The central government in Jakarta has historically deferred to Aceh’s autonomy arrangements, though rights groups argue this undermines Indonesia’s constitutional commitment to equality and non-discrimination. Tuesday’s flogging underscores ongoing tensions between Indonesia’s decentralized legal system and its international human rights commitments.

 Amnesty has called on the government to immediately halt the practice of public caning and decriminalize consensual same-sex relations nationwide. 

Such incidents are not novel in Aceh. The province has carried out public canings for same-sex relations and other morality offenses since implementing the Islamic criminal laws in 2015. Human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned the practice.

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UK: Christian teacher who said being LGBTQ+ is a sin loses High Court challenge

A Progress Pride flag waving in a street.(Getty)

A Christian teacher who told students being LGBTQ+ is a sin and trans people are “just confused” has reportedly lost a High Court challenge over a finding of unprofessional conduct.

Glawdys Leger, a teacher at Bishop Justus Church of England School in Bromley, south London, is said to have made the comments to a group of year seven students during a class in February 2022.

She was suspended in March 2022, and dismissed from her role two months later. A professional conduct panel (PCP) in December 2023 found her comments amounted to “unprofessional conduct”, with the findings published on the Teaching Regulation Agency’s website.

The PCP revealed that during a discussion on “allyship”, the teacher had said being LGBTQ+ is “not fine”, and that students should put God before the LGBTQ+ community. The PCP also found Leger had said being LGBTQ+ is a sin, and trans people are “just confused”.

After Leger’s comments were found to amount to unprofessional conduct, she brought legal action at the High Court against the Department for Education over the PCP’s findings.

She reportedly argued that the panel had not put her comments into context, and that the school’s duty to “provide a broad and balanced curriculum” didn’t apply to her as an individual teacher. She added that the decision to publish the finding online infringed on her privacy, making it unlawful.

On Thursday (20 March), her case was dismissed by Justice Lang, who said Leger’s criticisms against the PCP finding “do not disclose any error of law, as opposed to mere disagreement”, PA Media reported.

Leger argued that while she was not banned from teaching due to the incident, the fact that the PCP’s decision had been published online would make it “difficult, if not impossible, to obtain new employment”.

Justice Lang stated, however, that the decision to publish the finding was “justifiable and proportionate”.

“While ‘Ms Leger’s comments lacked respect for the right of others’ this did not derive ‘from a lack of a tolerance’ nor had she any ‘intention of causing distress to pupils’,” Justice Lang said of the PCP finding.

“That said, her ‘actions were at risk of upsetting pupils in the lesson’ and her ‘choice not to present a balanced view undermined the school community’s aspiration to provide a supportive environment for children who may be exploring sexual identity’.”

In October 2023, Leger commented: “I have great compassion for LGBT people, especially for those suffering from gender dysphoria. 

“I cannot, however, in good conscience teach or say things I believe are contrary to my faith, for example saying that same-sex sexual relationships are good and/or affirming people with gender dysphoria in their gender confusion.”

The teacher added: “I am certain that I have not shown, and never would show, any hatred or lack of love towards LGBT people.”

Source: https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/03/21/christian-teacher-who-said-being-lgbtq-is-a-sin-loses-high-court-challenge/

ECtHR : Judgment Bazhenov and Others v. Russia (nos. 8825/22 and 19130/22) (failure of the national authorities to respond adequately to homophobia-driven incidents)

The applicants, Yevgeniy Bazhenov, Aleksandr Semkin and Artem Lapov, are three Russian nationals who were born in 1985, 1984 and 1988 respectively. They are homosexuals and are in same-sex marriages registered outside Russia. The first two applicants are a couple and live in Moscow. The third applicant and his husband left Russia in 2022, and are currently residing in a European country as refugees.
The case concerns disclosure of the applicants’ personal data, including information about their sexual orientation, on social networks, and the alleged failure of the national authorities to respond adequately to those homophobia-driven incidents.
Relying on Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life) taken alone and in conjunction with Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the Convention, the applicants complain that the national authorities failed to do their duty to ensure effective respect for their private lives and protect them from discrimination. They also complain under Article 13 that they had no effective domestic remedy at their disposal for their Convention complaints.

Violation of Article 14 taken in conjunction with Article 8
Just satisfaction: non-pecuniary damage: EUR 7,000

More: https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-241571