(C) The Week
BANDA ACEH – In one of the most severe sentences since the implementation of Sharia law in the region, an Indonesian couple was subjected to 140 lashes each for premarital sex and alcohol consumption.
The punishment, carried out publicly in a local park on Thursday, drew a crowd of dozens of onlookers. The couple was struck on their backs with rattan canes by masked enforcement officers. According to local reports, the ordeal proved too much for the woman, who lost consciousness during the execution of the sentence and had to be rushed to a medical facility for treatment.
Record-Breaking Severity
The sentence marks a significant escalation in the enforcement of moral codes in Aceh, the only province in Indonesia authorized to implement Sharia law. Muhammad Rizal, the head of the Sharia police in Banda Aceh, confirmed the gravity of the punishment.
"The 140 lashes represent one of the harshest penalties handed down since Sharia law was officially enacted in Aceh in 2001," Rizal stated.
The total count was a combination of two separate violations:
100 lashes for engaging in extramarital sexual relations.
40 lashes for the consumption of alcohol.
No Exceptions for Enforcement Officers
The couple was part of a group of six individuals punished during the same session. Notably, the group included a member of the Sharia police force and his female partner. The officer was caught in a "private encounter" and received 23 lashes.
Rizal emphasized that the law applies to everyone, regardless of their position. "There are no exceptions, even for members of our own organization. This incident has brought dishonor to our agency," he added.
A Controversial Legal Landscape
While human rights organizations have frequently condemned public caning as "cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment," the practice maintains a level of local support in Aceh. The province continues to penalize a wide range of activities including gambling, alcohol consumption, same-sex relations, and adultery.
Last year, the Sharia court sentenced two men to 77 lashes each for same-sex relations, signaling a continued strict adherence to religious jurisprudence in the region.
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