5 unmarried couples whipped publicly in Indonesia

Jakarta, March 20 (IANS) 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 mag/bg