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Indonesian Man Who Helped Create Adultery Laws Flogged After Affair Discovered

Indonesian Man Who Helped Create Adultery Laws Flogged After Affair Discovered

As luck would have it, he was caught cheating

Amelia Ward

Amelia Ward

An man in Indonesia has been caught out by strict laws in his country - which he helped to make.

The man worked for an organisation that helped draft strict religious laws which meant adulterers had to be flogged. He himself was caught having an affair with a married woman and became subject to the rule he helped create.

Mukhlis, a member of the Aceh Ulema Council, was beaten 28 times with a rattan cane in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh on Thursday (31 October). He only goes by one name, like many Indonesians.

Throughout the punishment, the lady he was caught cheating with was also brought to the stage and flogged 23 times.

Getty/AFP

Flogging is a common punishment in the highly conservative Aceh region on Sumatra island, and it's used for a range of offences, including adultery, drinking alcohol, and having gay or pre-marital sex.

The region is the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation that imposes Islamic law, part of a 2005 autonomy deal with the central government that followed and then ended a long separatist insurgency.

The organisation Mukhlis worked for was one that helped the local government with legislature on drafting and implementing Aceh's religious law, including public flogging. His specific role in the organisation has not been revealed.

Aceh Besar deputy regent Husaini Wahab told reporters: "No matter who you are... if you violate [Islamic] law you will be whipped."

Wahab added that Mukhlis would probably also face the sack for the offense.

Fishermen in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.
PA

Floggings often attract large crowds. One spectator told the Daily Mail: "I was just curious to see how it was carried out."

On the same day as Mukhlis's punishment, a female student was flogged 12 times after she was caught spending the night in a boarding house with a man.

The Aceh Ulema Council made headlines this summer when it hit out at plans to form a women's football league because Aceh did not have a special stadium where only female players, match officials and spectators could be present.

Teungku Faisal Ali, vice-chairman of the Islamic clerical body in Aceh told AFP: "We are not against female soccer at all, however, if the facilities are not ready, female soccer is considered haram [forbidden]."

Featured Image Credit: AFP/Getty

Topics: World News