Two gay men were brutally whipped in public under Sharia law in Aceh, Indonesia.

The men each received 76 lashes after being found guilty of same-sex relations. Local authorities reduced their original sentence slightly to account for time in detention. Witnesses described the men grimacing in agony as masked officers carried out the punishment with rattan sticks.

The case has sparked outrage worldwide. “This public flogging is a disturbing act of state-sanctioned discrimination and cruelty,” said Amnesty International. The group urged Indonesia to end these punishments and repeal discriminatory laws.

Aceh is the only province in Indonesia enforcing Sharia law, where public caning is used for adultery, drinking alcohol, and even missing Friday prayers. Officials say the practice has strong support locally, though human rights groups condemn it as degrading.

One witness said a man collapsed and had to be carried away after the final lash. This incident raises a difficult question: should cultural autonomy ever outweigh basic human rights?