The 21-year-old was beaten along with her boyfriend before the spectators for being caught in ‘close proximity’ to each other. The incident took place today in the city of Banda Aceh where Sharia law is strictly observed and enforced.
Under the sharia law people are beaten as many as 200 times for a range of perceived crimes such as gambling, drinking alcohol, gay sex or any non-marital relationship.
Police in Aceh have been known to target Muslim women without headscarves or those wearing tight clothes, and people drinking alcohol or gambling.
Men and women are beaten with bamboo canes in front of spectators, many of whom are men in uniform who take their own photographs.
Those caught engaging in consensual gay sex is punished with 100 lashes, 100 months in jail or a fine of 1,000 grams of gold. For the crime of being in ‘close proximity’ to the opposite sex, one can get 10 to 25 lashings with the switch.
The law also set out punishment for sex crimes, unmarried people engaging in displays of affection, people caught found guilty of adultery and underage sex.