Sharia police in Indonesia’s Aceh province publicly caned a couple 140 times each on Thursday for having sex outside marriage and consuming alcohol, marking one of the severest punishments since the region adopted Islamic law.
The pair were struck with a rattan stick in a public park as dozens watched. The woman fainted after her punishment and was taken to an ambulance.
According to Muhammad Rizal, head of Banda Aceh’s Sharia police, the couple received 100 lashes for sex outside marriage and 40 for drinking alcohol. “As promised, we make no exceptions, especially not for our own members. This certainly tarnishes our name,” Rizal told AFP.
They were among six people flogged for violating the Islamic code, including a sharia police officer and his female partner who were caught in close proximity in a private place. That couple received 23 strikes each.
Aceh is the only region in Indonesia that imposes sharia law, having been granted special autonomy in 2001. Public caning is widely supported there for offenses such as gambling, alcohol consumption, gay sex, and extramarital relations.
Last year, two men were publicly flogged 76 times each after being found guilty of sexual relations by a sharia court.
