A news from Aceh province of Indonesia has attracted the attention of the whole world. Here, under Sharia law, a loving couple was given very harsh punishment in a public place. The allegation was that both of them had physical relations without marriage and consumed alcohol.
For these crimes, both of them were whipped with a thin bamboo stick a total of 140 times.
According to the people present there and the International News Agency, this punishment was given in a public park, where many people were present. During the punishment, both of them were made to stand on the stage and were whipped continuously on their backs. The number of lashes was so high that by the time the punishment was completed the woman became unconscious. He was immediately taken to the hospital via ambulance.
Overall 140 crores were killed
Aceh’s Sharia police chief Muhammad Rijal said that the punishment was given completely according to the law. He said that 100 lashes were prescribed for having sex outside marriage and 40 lashes for drinking alcohol, hence a total of 140 lashes were imposed. According to Rizal, the law applies equally to everyone and there is no relaxation in it.
Aceh province is the only region of Indonesia where Islamic Sharia law is fully implemented. After being given special autonomy by the Central Government in the year 2001, religious laws got legal status here. Since then, corporal punishment has been given in Aceh for cases like gambling, alcohol, homosexual relations and sex outside marriage.
.One of the harshest punishments ever given
Local officials claim that this is one of the harshest punishments ever given. According to reports, a total of six people were whipped in this incident for breaking Islamic law. The surprising thing was that a Sharia police officer and his female companion were also included among them. When they were found guilty, they were given 23 lashes each.
The Sharia police chief clearly said that the department does not spare even its own employees. In his words, ‘Law is paramount for us. It may be shameful for us to take action against our own people, but no one is above the law. After this incident, international human rights organizations have once again raised questions on physical punishments given under Sharia law.
Critics say that public flogging is inhumane and against modern human rights standards. At the same time, the Aceh administration justifies it by calling it a part of its religious and cultural identity. This case once again forces us to think about how to balance law, faith and human rights, especially when punishment directly affects the human body and dignity.