Indonesia’s Aceh province canes unwed couples

Three couples were publicly caned in Indonesia’s Aceh on Friday (June 12) after the unmarried university students were caught spending time together.

This is in violation of the province’s strict Islamic laws.

A crowd of about 1,000 spectators shouted as the three men and three women, aged between 18 and 23, were caned several times each in a square in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh. 

A fourth woman, aged in her 40s, was also publicly caned for committing adultery.

One of the women fainted after being caned four times and had to be carried off by officials.

“Hopefully those who are being caned will realise their mistakes and feel remorseful and repent to God so that they can become noble humans again,” Mr Ridwan, an official from the local Islamic shariah law office who goes by one name, said before the caning.

An Acehnese man being caned by a hooded government officer. PHOTO: AFP

Public caning is a common punishment in Aceh, which is the only province in Indonesia that is allowed to implement the shariah law, but it is rare for women to be caned.

Just this week, the Banda Aceh banned women from entertainment venues after 11pm unless they are accompanied by a husband or male family member.

Last month, an Aceh district court banned unmarried men and women from riding together on motorbikes.

Source: AFP