Christian woman, four others caned in Indonesia for breaking Islamic Sharia Law

A Christian woman has been subjected to caning in a public square in Aceh, Indonesia for breaking Muslim Sharia law.

According to Benar News, the woman, aged 60, was subjected to 28 lashes with a rattan cane in front of local officials and more than 1,000 spectators. She was supposed to receive 30 but her imprisonment of 47 days prior to the punishment was equated to two lashes.

The elderly woman was convicted for selling alcohol in Aceh, the only province in Indonesia that strictly enforces Sharia, the religious legal system based on the precepts of Islam. Under Sharia, alcohol is a banned substance, and adultery, homosexuality, among other things, are not allowed.

Apart from the woman, four others who were found guilty of violating the Qanan Jinayat or Sharia bylaws were caned on Tuesday in front of the Arts and Sports Building Takengon in central Aceh. A 42-year-old Muslim man and a 30-year-old Muslim woman were charged for committing adultery -- they each received 100 lashes. The report says that the other two were a man and woman who received three lashes each for committing khalwat, a crime wherein two non-married people are alone and close to one another.

The Sharia law was put into place in Aceh after Jakarta granted it special autonomy. Last year, the scope of the Qanun Jinayat was broadened by the regional House of Representatives. With this, just about any wrongdoer -- Indonesians or foreigners, be they Muslim or non-Muslim -- can be punished under the Sharia law if their cases are not covered by the Indonesian criminal code. Gays and adulterers will be subjected 100 lashes, while rapists of minors will receive 200 lashes.

According to The Times, the flogging of the elderly woman, identified as Remita Sinaga, was the first time a non-Muslim received punishment under Sharia law.