Religious leader who helped with strict laws against adultery gets lashes after he was caught

An Indonesian man who actively participated in drafting strict laws against adultery in the profoundly conservative Aceh region – the only one in Indonesia applying strict Islamic law (Sharia) – was allowed to experience how they are put into practice. He was caught in an affair with a married woman.

The 46-year-old man, as a member of a religious council in Aceh province, helped formulate the strict Sharia laws. It not only condemns adultery, but also gay sex, alcohol and gambling are banned and severely punished with the whip.

Beach

The man is now the first-ever religious leader to be punished in public since Sharia was introduced to the region in 2005. He was caught with the woman in a car near a tourist beach in September. The man got 28 lashes for that on Thursday. And the married woman with whom he had a relationship did not escape persecution: she was beaten 23 times publicly.

The religious leader also has first-ever from the religious council to which he belonged.