Canes Ahoy!

Lawmakers in the conservative Muslim Indonesian province of Aceh have passed a law that punishes gay sex by public caning and subjects non-Muslims to the region's strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law. Human rights groups have said the law violates international treaties signed by Indonesia protecting the rights of minorities and women. Gay rights activist King Oey urged the central government's new moderate leadership to use its influence to overturn the law, or appeal it at the Constitutional Court. "It's discriminatory and saddening," he said. "We urge people who are concerned with human rights will not sit by silently." The measure was passed by the 69-member assembly unanimously this morning (their time) after hours of debate, just days before a new 81-member regional parliament takes over next week, said lawmaker Mahyaruddin Yusuf from the Islamic-based Prosperous Justice Party. The law says anal sex between men is punishable by up to 100 lashes of the cane. Women found guilty of "rubbing" their body parts against each other for sexual pleasure are also liable for caning. That's right, caning - over something one doesn't choose. It's a violation of their right to be different, and besides, there is the chance they may enjoy it (or so the stereotype goes). And besides, people convicted of adultery, gambling, and consuming alcohol already face caning, as do women wearing tight clothes and people who skip Friday Muslim prayers.