The Sharia police in Indonesia caned a couple 140 times each in Indonesia’s Aceh province for having intercourse outside marriage and drinking alcohol.
Sekzual relations between an unmarried couple are strictly outlawed in Aceh, the only place in Indonesia to impose a version of sharia.
The couple, a man and a woman, were lashed on their backs with a rattan stick in a public park while dozens of people watched, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.
The woman fainted after enduring her punishment and was escorted to an ambulance which rushed her to the hospital.
In total, the pair received 280 lashes: 200 for sekz outside marriage and 80 for consuming alcohol, the head of Banda Aceh’s Sharia police, Muhammad Rizal, told AFP.
It is thought to be one of the highest numbers of cane lashes imposed since Sharia was implemented after Aceh was granted special autonomy in 2001
The couple was among six people flogged for breaking the Islamic code, including a sharia police officer and his female partner, who were caught in close proximity in a private place.
“As promised, we make no exceptions, especially not for our own members. This certainly tarnishes our name,” Rizal said.
Caning retains strong support in Aceh to punish a range of offences, including gambling, drinking alcohol, having gay sekz and having sekzxual relations outside marriage.
Last year, two men were publicly flogged 76 times each after they were found guilty of sexual relations by the Sharia court. – AFP
