A 22-year-old woman broke down as she pleaded with a sharia officer to stop whipping her in a public ceremony in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province.
People watched as the woman and two men were caned in a stadium 170 miles from the provincial capital Banda Aceh.
Whipping is used as punishment for numerous offenses in the region, including drinking alcohol, gambling, and having an intimate relationship outside of marriage.
The woman and her 22-year-old boyfriend received 100 whipped each after they were caught having sexual intercourse before getting married.
The 22-year-old woman broke down numerous times because of the pain, forcing the officer to stop the attack until she was allowed to be hit again by a doctor.
A 19-year-old boy was also punished for having sex with a minor. By the end of the whipping, his shirt was soaked with blood. He will also serve five years in prison.
One official from the local prosecutor’s office, Fakhrillah, said the punishment was held inside a stadium to prevent children from watching.
Rights groups have slammed the act as cruel. President Joko Widodo has also called for the public caning to end. However, the practice has wide support among residents in Aceh.
One internet user commented: “Sickening barbarism. Puts humanity back 1000 years.”
Another wrote: “I don’t agree with this but it is a case of their country, their rules. These people would have known they were breaking the law and of the possible consequences.”
A third said: “Making love to someone you love with their consent is a crime? It’s a basic human need, shouldn’t be punished for doing what nature intended. Insane.”
What’s your take on this? Let us know in the comments section and SHARE this with your friends and family!