A young couple in Indonesia was publicly caned Thursday after allegedly kissing during a TikTok livestream.The couple — a 22-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman — each received 21 lashes, according to the Associated Press (AP).They were reportedly convicted of violating local morality laws under an Islamic sharia court in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province. The pair, who were detained in March, had already spent four months in prison prior to the punishment, which ultimately reduced their sentence from 25 lashes to 21, the AP said. SOUTH CAROLINA FITNESS TRAINER TOLD FRIENDS SHE WANTED TO LEAVE HER NOW-HUSBAND YEARS BEFORE BODY WAS FOUNDShariah law officials assist an unmarried woman, convicted of violating Islamic law by kissing during a TikTok livestream, to get up after being publicly caned, in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Thursday, July 2, 2026.(AP Photo/Reza Saifullah)According to local authorities, the couple filmed a TikTok video inside a car one night in March.As the video went viral, they were subsequently apprehended for what officials described as an "immoral act." "Their actions were uncovered thanks to reports from residents who were disturbed by their immoral livestream content," Sharia police said in April. "The trigger was their livestream on TikTok while engaging in immoral acts in the car," Head of the Sharia Police Muhammad Rizal added in his statement.
"This sparked criticism from netizens and local residents, who then reported them to the authorities."THREE HIKERS KILLED AFTER CLIMBING RESTRICTED INDONESIAN VOLCANO TO CREATE ONLINE CONTENT, POLICE SAYA man is publicly caned after he was convicted of violating Islamic law by kissing during a TikTok livestream, in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Thursday, July 2, 2026.(AP Photo/Reza Saifullah)The court also confiscated a cellphone and a USB flash drive containing the TikTok video, which authorities promised to destroy, according to the AP.A Banda Aceh resident who attended the caning, 22-year-ol...