Asia Pacific Director of Amnesty International Sam Zarifi said in a statement to the ANTARA London correspondent on Sunday that 14 men had been lashed outside the Darul Falah Mosque in Langsa on May 19, 2011, and seven other men a week earlier.
The 21 men had violated the syariah law in Aceh against gambling, and each sentenced to six strikes with the whip in front of hundreds of onlookers.
Sam Zarifi said the Aceh authorities had been increasing the lashing punishment which is a violation of international law.
"The lashed victim suffers pain, fear and a feeling of shame, and may cause long-term or permanent injuries," he said, and asked the government to put a halt to this kind of punishment, which is a cruel, inhuman and degrading action, a torture.
Media reports said at least 16 men and women had lashing injuries in Aceh in 2010.
In addition to lashing, Islamic law approved by the Aceh parliament in 2009 included stoning to death for adultery and 100 lashes for homosexuals.
This code had yet to be implemented, partly due to strong local, national and international criticism.
Amnesty International called on the central government to examine all local legal regulations to secure their conformity with the law and standards of international basic human rights, as well as domestic human rights rulings.
"Indonesia`s decentralization and regional autonomy should be on local community empowerment, instead of sacrificing their human rights," Sam Zarifi said.
Aceh legislative assembly passed a series of regulations on implementation of Sharia law following the passage of the 2001 Special Autonomy Law.
Lashing is introduced to Islamic courts for violations like adultery, taking alcoholic drinks, unmarried couples being together alone, and Muslims eating, drinking or selling food during the fasting month of Ramadhan.
Lashing is against the UN Convention on Torture, Indonesia had ratified in 1998.
The committee against torture has also expressed its concern that there is no guarantee of the human rights of people jailed under the Aceh Syariah law for legal aid, and often facing guilty presumptions.(*)
(ZG/H-NG/S012)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
