Indonesian Province Whips 13 Persons for Violating Islamic laws Against Touching, Hugging, and Kissing Between Unmarried People

13 people – seven men and six women aged between 21 and 30 – were caned at a mosque in the Indonesian Province of Aceh for sexual misconduct, The UK Guardian reports.

The woman, pictured above, was flogged 23 times after she was accused of being too close to her boyfriend.

Another man was flogged for spending time with a member of the opposite sex at a hidden location in a way that could lead to adultery.

Six couples were found guilty of breaking Islamic laws on intimacy, such as touching, hugging and kissing, between unmarried people.

One 22-year-old woman was granted a temporary reprieve as she was pregnant. But Aceh’s Deputy Mayor, Zainal Arifin, said: “The punishment will be handed down after she gives birth.”

“We hope there are no more people in Banda Aceh who break the law in future,” Arifin added.

Aceh is the only province in Indonesia that enforces sharia law and people face floggings for a range of offences, including gambling, drinking alcohol and gay sex.