The introduction of Sharia law in Aceh, Indonesia

This episode of Witness History explores the first public enforcement of Sharia law in Aceh, Indonesia, in 2005—six months after the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The implementation, signed by acting governor Aswar Abu Bakar, marked a pivotal moment in Aceh’s post-conflict recovery and autonomy. Following a 20-year insurgency by the Free Aceh Movement, Indonesia granted Aceh special self-governance, including the right to adopt Sharia law. The law, formalized through Kanun Jine'at (Sharia criminal code), targeted offenses like alcohol consumption, gambling, and 'kalwat'—being alone with a member of the opposite sex in a secluded place. The first public caning took place after Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque of Birun, where 15 men were sentenced to six strokes each. Governor Abu Bakar described the event as a deeply symbolic and orderly moment, emphasizing that the punishment was psychological rather than physically harmful, and that the community responded positively, with widespread reports of reduced alcohol and gambling. Despite international criticism over human rights concerns, Abu Bakar defended the practice as consistent with Islamic teachings and a necessary step toward moral order in Aceh.