Social Media Sparks Caning in Aceh | Toronto News

Toronto News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 2, 2026 · 1m

In Aceh, Indonesia, an unmarried couple was publicly whipped 21 times each after a video of them kissing went viral — marking the first time social media triggered such punishment under the province’s strict sharia law. Human rights groups condemn the act as discriminatory and cruel, highlighting how digital behavior now faces real-world consequences. This isn’t an isolated case — just days prior, another couple was caned for intimacy, and men were punished for gambling. Since May, similar punishments have targeted everything from extramarital sex to inappropriate physical contact. Though…