Banda Aceh – A gay couple who were apprehended by officials in the Sari Park toilet in the Acehnese capital of Banda Aceh with the initials QH (20) and RA (21) were sentenced to 80 lashes by a panel of judges of the Banda Aceh Islamic Court on Monday August 11.
The verdict was read by presiding judge Rokhmadi who was accompanied by judges Ramli and Safnizar. The panel of judges considered that two defendants were legally proven to have violated Article 63 paragraph (1) of Aceh Qanun (Bylaw) Number 6/2014 on Islamic Law related to crimes of liwath (male homosexuality).
"Handing down a sentence against the defendants of a punishment of 80 lashes reduced by the arrest and detention period that has been served by the defendants", the panel of judges said at the trial.
Responding to the verdict, QH and RA accepted the judges' ruling.
Earlier, the public prosecutor (JPU) from the Banda Aceh District Attorney's Office, Alfian, demanded that the two defendants be whipped 85 times each. Responding to the verdict, the prosecutor stated that they were not satisfied because the judge's decision was not in accordance with their demand.
"It was less than satisfactory, because after being reduced for time served the number of lashes was under 80. Previously, the average has been 80 or more. But this is still within the category of acceptable", said Alfian.
This case began when an Islamic Police patrol arrested QH and RH at the Sari Park toilet on Wednesday evening, April 16. The two men were then secured by the officers for further legal processing. (dra/kid)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Pasangan Gay di Banda Aceh Divonis 80 Kali Cambuk".]