Awaiting August 20: Two Defendants Accused of Illicit Intimacy (*Ikhtilath*) to Undergo Caning Punishment in Banda Aceh |
On Thursday, August 20, 2026, Bustanussalatin Park in Banda Aceh will serve as the venue for the enforcement of Islamic Sharia law in Aceh.
At approximately 10:00 WIB (Western Indonesian Time), two defendants in cases involving khalwat (illicit seclusion) and ikhtilath (illicit intimacy)—identified as YS (43) and ND (41)—are scheduled to undergo caning punishment following the legal proceedings of their cases at the Banda Aceh Sharia Court.
The Head of the Banda Aceh Municipal Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) and Sharia Police (Wilayatul Hisbah/WH), Muhammad Rizal, stated that the execution of the punishment has been scheduled for Thursday morning.
"The administration of the caning punishment for the two defendants is scheduled for Thursday, August 20, 2026, at around 10:00 WIB at Bustanussalatin Park," said Muhammad Rizal on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
The case began several months prior. On May 25, 2026, officers from the Banda Aceh Satpol PP and WH conducted a routine inspection at a hotel.
During the inspection, officers discovered a man and a woman—who were neither a married couple nor mahram (individuals prohibited from marrying due to blood or marital ties)—sharing a single room.
The pair was subsequently taken to the Banda Aceh Satpol PP and WH office for questioning. The handling of the case proceeded through investigation stages and a case review.
As a result of this process, YS and ND were named suspects for alleged violations of Article 23 paragraph (1) regarding khalwat, in conjunction with Article 25 paragraph (1) regarding ikhtilath.
The case then moved from law enforcement interrogation rooms to the courtroom. The Banda Aceh District Attorney's Office received the handover of the suspects and evidence from the Civil Servant Investigators (PPNS) of the Banda Aceh Satpol PP and WH before the case was submitted to the Banda Aceh Sharia Court. The initial hearing for the two defendants was held on Monday, July 13, 2026.
This process is part of the enforcement mechanism for Sharia law in Aceh. Case handling involves several stages, ranging from surveillance, investigation, and case referral to the court hearing itself.
Now that the judicial proceedings have concluded, the next stage is the carrying out of the uqubat (punishment).
Barring any schedule changes, YS and ND will undergo caning at Bustanussalatin Park on Thursday morning. This execution marks the final point of a legal process that began with a routine inspection at a hotel in Banda Aceh last May.
For Aceh, the administration of caning punishments is part of the implementation of jinayat (Islamic criminal) law, which holds a specific legal basis within the regional legal system.
On Thursday, August 20, 2026, the punishment will once again be carried out in a public space in Banda Aceh, illustrating how the enforcement of Sharia law in Aceh unfolds—from the initial surveillance stage through to the execution of the verdict.
[]
#highqualitypost