Gang-raped Indonesian woman faces public caning

An official says an Indonesian woman who was gang raped by men who accused her of having extramarital sex now faces possible public caning for violating Islamic law.

The 25-year-old widow said she was raped by eight men who allegedly found her having sex with a married man in her house. The men reportedly beat the man, doused the two with sewage, and then turned them over to Islamic police in conservative Aceh province.

The head of Islamic Shariah law in the district, Ibrahim Latief, today said that the two face nine strokes of a cane for violating religious law, pending an investigation. He said police have arrested three of the eight men and are hunting for the others. He said they face up to 15 years in prison.