In a rare and severe punishment, police in Indonesia’s Aceh province publicly lashed a woman and her partner 140 times each on Thursday for having sex outside of marriage and consuming alcohol — one of the harshest penalties in the region in 25 years.
The punishment, carried out with a rattan cane, caused the woman to collapse and sob during the flogging, which took place in a public square in Aceh, the only province in Indonesia that enforces Sharia law. According to Agence France-Presse, the couple received 100 lashes for pre-marital sex and 40 for drinking alcohol, which is prohibited under local law.
Authorities transported the collapsed woman to a nearby ambulance after the brutal sentencing. The couple was among six individuals publicly punished for violating Sharia regulations, including a Sharia police officer and his partner, who were accused of being in close private proximity. They received 23 lashes each.
“As promised, we make no exceptions, especially not for our own members. This certainly tarnishes our name,” Rizal, a local official, told AFP.
Public canings remain a common enforcement tool in Aceh for violations of Islamic law. Punishments can also be applied for gambling, missing prayers, or homosexual acts. Last year, two men reportedly received 76 lashes for hugging and kissing in a public restroom.