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.

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.

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.

Monday's verdict was the fifth time that Aceh has sentenced people to public caning for homosexuality since strict Islamic law was implemented in the province.

Two men have reportedly been sentenced to public caning for kissing each other in a toilet in Indonesia. The men, aged 20 and 21, were sentenced in the Aceh province, where Sharia Law is practised, on Monday (11 August).