Latest news with #ShariaCourt
The Star
11-08-2025
- The Star
Islamic court in Indonesia's Aceh sentences two men to public caning over sexual acts
A police officer and a prosecutor escort two men accused of having gay sex after they arrived for their sentencing hearing at the Sharia Court in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on Monday, August 11, 2025. -- Photo: Reza Saifullah / AP BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AP): An Islamic court in Indonesia's conservative Aceh province on Monday sentenced two men to public caning, 80 times each, after Islamic religious police caught them engaged in what the court deemed were sexual acts: hugging and kissing. The trial at the Islamic Shariah District Court in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital, was held behind closed doors. Judges have the authority to limit public access in such a case and open it only for the verdict. The two men, aged 20 and 21, were arrested in April after residents saw them entering the same bathroom at Taman Sari city park and reported it to police patrolling the area. The police broke into the toilet and caught the men kissing and hugging, which the court considered to be a sexual act. The lead judge, Rokhmadi M. Hum, said the two college students were "legally and convincingly' proven to have violated Islamic law by committing acts that lead to gay sexual relations. The court didn't publicly identify the men. Prosecutors previously sought 85 strokes of the cane for each, but the three-judge panel decided on what they described as lenient punishment because the men were outstanding students who were polite in court, cooperated with authorities and had no previous convictions. The judges also ordered the time they have served to be deducted from their sentence. It means the number of lashes will be reduced by four as they have been detained for four months. The prosecutor, Alfian, who like many Indonesians uses only a single name, said he was not satisfied with the lighter sentence. But he said he will not appeal. Aceh is the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia allowed to observe a version of Islamic law. It allows up to 100 lashes for morality offenses including gay sex. Caning is also punishment for adultery, gambling, drinking and for women who wear tight clothes and men who skip Friday prayers. Indonesia's secular central government granted Aceh the right to implement the law in 2006 as part of a peace deal to end a separatist war. Aceh implemented an expansion in 2015 that extended the law to non-Muslims, who account for about 1% of the province's population. Human rights groups have criticized the law, saying it violates international treaties signed by Indonesia protecting the rights of minorities. Indonesia's national criminal code doesn't regulate homosexuality. Monday's verdict was the fifth time that Aceh has sentenced people to public caning for homosexuality since the Islamic law was implemented. In February, the same court sentenced two men to public caning up to 85 times for gay sex after neighborhood vigilantes in Banda Aceh suspected them of being gay and broke into their rented room to catch them naked and hugging each other. -- Associated Press writer Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.
CTV News
11-08-2025
- CTV News
Islamic Shariah court in Indonesia's Aceh province sentences 2 men to public caning over sexual acts
A police officer escorts two men accused of having gay sex, upon arrival for their sentencing hearing at the Sharia Court in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Reza Saifullah) BANDA ACEH, Indonesia — An Islamic Shariah court in Indonesia's conservative Aceh province on Monday sentenced two men to public caning 80 times each after Islamic religious police caught them engaged in what the court deemed were sexual acts. The trial at the Islamic Shariah District Court in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital, was held behind closed doors. Judges have the authority to limit public access to a trial if the case relates to adultery and open it only for the verdict. The couple, aged 20 and 21, were arrested in April after residents saw them entering the same bathroom at Taman Sari city park in Banda Aceh and reported it to Sharia police, who were patrolling the area. The police broke into the toilet and caught the men kissing and hugging each other, which the court considered to be a sexual act. Aceh is considered more devout than other areas of Muslim-majority Indonesia and is the only province allowed to observe a version of Islamic Shariah law. Monday's verdict was the fifth time that Aceh has sentenced people to public caning for homosexuality since the Islamic law was implemented in 2015 as a concession made by the government to end a long-running separatist rebellion. Indonesia's national criminal code doesn't regulate homosexuality, and the central government doesn't have the power to strike down Shariah law in Aceh. The Associated Press
Gulf Insider
19-06-2025
- Gulf Insider
Bahrain Court Grants Divorce To Woman After Years Of Abuse And Assault
A Bahraini woman has been granted a divorce after her husband was convicted of violently abusing her, including an assault that left her with a broken nose. According to court records, the woman endured years of physical and verbal abuse during her marriage but initially remained silent to preserve her family. The violence escalated earlier this year, prompting her to seek help after a particularly severe attack. Her lawyer told local media the abuse was both 'long-standing and documented.' The husband was convicted by Bahrain's criminal court of assault, insult, and mistreatment, and fined BD500. His subsequent appeal was dismissed, and the conviction upheld. Building on the criminal ruling, the woman sought a divorce in the Sharia Court, citing harm. The court accepted the criminal verdict as conclusive proof of abuse, ruling that the severity of the violence and mistreatment made reconciliation impossible. Judges granted her an irrevocable divorce (khul'), which bars her from returning to her ex-husband except with a new contract and dowry. The divorce certificate will be issued once the verdict is final.
Gulf Insider
15-06-2025
- Gulf Insider
Bahrain: Court Grants Woman Divorce After Husband Breaks Her Nose
A Bahraini woman has been granted a divorce by the Sharia Court after her husband was convicted of physically and verbally abusing her, including an assault that left her with a broken nose. The woman, who had been married for several years and has children with her husband, had remained silent for the sake of the family. However, the continued violence compelled her to seek legal recourse after a particularly brutal attack. Her lawyer, Abeer Abbas, said the abuse was long-standing and documented. The husband was found guilty by the criminal court of assault, insult, and mistreatment, and was ordered to pay a fine of BD500. His appeal was later dismissed, and the conviction upheld. Following the criminal ruling, the woman filed for divorce in the Sharia Court on the grounds of harm. The court accepted the criminal verdict as sufficient proof of abuse and ruled in her favour. In its decision, the court stated that the level of violence and mistreatment made reconciliation impossible. It issued one irrevocable divorce (khul') with minor separation, meaning the woman may only remarry her ex-husband with a new marriage contract and dowry. The divorce certificate will be issued once the judgment becomes final.
Daily Tribune
14-06-2025
- Daily Tribune
Court grants woman divorce after husband breaks her nose
A Bahraini woman has been granted a divorce by the Sharia Court after her husband was convicted of physically and verbally abusing her, including an assault that left her with a broken nose. The woman, who had been married for several years and has children with her husband, had remained silent for the sake of the family. However, the continued violence compelled her to seek legal recourse after a particularly brutal attack. Her lawyer, Abeer Abbas, said the abuse was long-standing and documented. The husband was found guilty by the criminal court of assault, insult, and mistreatment, and was ordered to pay a fine of BD500. His appeal was later dismissed, and the conviction upheld. Following the criminal ruling, the woman filed for divorce in the Sharia Court on the grounds of harm. The court accepted the criminal verdict as sufficient proof of abuse and ruled in her favour. In its decision, the court stated that the level of violence and mistreatment made reconciliation impossible. It issued one irrevocable divorce (khul') with minor separation, meaning the woman may only remarry her ex-husband with a new marriage contract and dowry. The divorce certificate will be issued once the judgment becomes final.
