Indonesian couple whipped 100 times each in Aceh for premarital sex

The pair had their temperatures checked and wore face masks as they were lashed with a rattan cane outside a mosque

The man’s whipping was briefly paused as he could not bear the pain, and a second flogger was called in to finish the caning of his partner

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A man receives 100 whippings by religious police in Jantho, Aceh province. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:00am, 6 Jun 2020Updated: 10:57am, 9 Jun 2020

Two Indonesians caught having premarital sex were flogged a hundred times each on Friday in conservative Aceh province with a fraction of the usual crowd watching, due in part to coronavirus fears.

Aceh is the only region in Muslim-majority Indonesia to impose Islamic law, which allows whipping for charges including gambling, adultery, drinking alcohol, and gay sex.

Local officials have continued the practice despite bans on mass gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic, insisting they have taken adequate safety measures to prevent infections.

On Friday, the couple had their temperatures checked and wore face masks as they were lashed with a rattan cane outside a mosque on the western tip of Sumatra.

The man’s flogging was briefly paused because he could not bear the pain, while a second flogger had to be pressed into service to finish the heavy lashing of his female partner.

“This young couple deserved a hundred lashes because they violated Islamic law,” said Agus Kelana Putra, head of general crime division at the prosecutor’s office in Aceh Besar district.

A woman is escorted by officials before receiving 100 whippings by religious police in Jantho, Aceh province. Photo: AFP