5 unmarried couples whipped publicly in Indonesia

Five unmarried couples were on Wednesday flogged publicly in Indonesia - the world's largest Muslim-majority country that practices Sharia or strict Islamic law.

The whipping took place outside a mosque in provincial capital Banda Aceh. The accused were whipped between 10 to 20 times with a wooden cane, Efe news reported.

Four of the couples were accused of maintaining an affective relationship without marriage. The fifth couple was punished for meeting alone in a private space without being married.

The public flogging was attended by Banda Aceh Mayor Aminullah Usman. A crowd of men, women and children witnessed the punishment being meted out to the accused. Some in the crowd captured it on their mobile phones.

--IANS

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