A couple in Indonesia has been caned 140 times for having sex outside marriage and drinking alcohol, violating Sharia law. This noted severity of punishment occurred during a public caning session in Aceh province, marking a disturbing record.
The 21-year-old woman, already overwhelmed by the sheer brutality, fainted after receiving what authorities described as a record number of strokes. As the caning unfolded, three female officers alternatively struck her with a rattan cane while she called out in distress. After collapsing, she was promptly taken away by ambulance.
The couple was punished along with four others, including a member of the Islamic police force, each found guilty of breaking Sharia law. Caning remains a common form of punishment in Aceh, drawing harsh criticism from international rights organizations that deem it an inhumane practice.
Under the local Islamic criminal code, having sex outside marriage leads to a punishment of 100 strokes of the cane, while consuming alcohol incurs an additional 40 strokes. Notably, the Islamic police officer who was also punished received only 23 lashes for being discovered with a woman in a private setting.
Rights activists like Azharul Husna have raised concerns about the lack of regulation surrounding caning, calling for improved support and proper oversight of the punishment process. Despite these appeals, Aceh remains the only province in Indonesia strictly enforcing Sharia law, and incidents like this continue to raise alarm over human rights violations under the guise of religious edicts.
