Audio By Carbonatix
A couple in Indonesia has been caned 140 times for having sex outside marriage and drinking alcohol because it violates Sharia, or Islamic religious law.
The 21-year-old woman fainted after what authorities said was a record number of strokes to be meted out in a public caning session in the Aceh province.
Three female officers took turns striking her with a rattan cane, while she cried. After she collapsed, she was carried off the stage by female officers to an ambulance.
The couple were caned on Thursday along with four others, including an officer from the Islamic police force, who were all found guilty of violating Sharia.
Caning is a common punishment for breaking Islamic law in religiously conservative Aceh, although the practice has long drawn criticism from rights groups who say it’s cruel.
Under Aceh’s Islamic criminal code, sex outside marriage is punishable by 100 strokes of the cane, while consuming alcohol carries 40 strokes.
Canings are not regulated properly, says Azharul Husna, the Aceh coordinator for Indonesian rights group Kontras, adding that the rules around such punishments should be “improved” to support people after they’re caned.
The officer from the Islamic police force was caned 23 times, as was his female partner, for being in close proximity in a private place.
He was caught alone with her in her house, Muhammad Rizal, the head of Aceh’s Islamic police force told BBC Indonesian, adding that the officer would be dismissed.
Aceh is the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia to enforce the Sharia, and punishes many of the offences with public canings.
Latest Stories
-
Manye Fi sets 2026 in motion with new Afrobeats single “Freaky”
49 seconds -
Syrian government reaches deal with Kurdish-led forces
1 minute -
Why the future of PR depends on healthier client–agency partnerships
10 minutes -
DrJen unveils spirit-led debut single ‘Holy’
21 minutes -
Galatasaray target Ghana midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi in youth-focused transfer push
31 minutes -
Middlesbrough eye late move for Ghana’s Ransford Königsdörffer
31 minutes -
Ghana hosts West and Central Africa Conference on Nuclear Weapons Treaty
33 minutes -
Petrol prices to drop marginally in February – COPEC
37 minutes -
Concert party set for comeback as Tourism Minister launches Theatre Revival Committee
41 minutes -
Fragmented responses won’t defeat transnational threats – Vice President urges coordinated regional security strategy
50 minutes -
‘Old soldier never dies’ – Opanka on return to music
53 minutes -
Mahama commissions Akweteman Central Mosque
1 hour -
Grassroots are backbone of victory, not spectators – Bryan Acheampong pledges support after nationwide tour
1 hour -
MahamaCares covers GH¢46,000 kidney cancer treatment for four-year-old at Ho Teaching Hospital
2 hours -
East Legon Hills residents petition Ghana Water over prolonged shortages
2 hours
