Couple Caught Making Out In Banda Aceh Sentenced To Flogging

BANDA ACEH - A non-mahram couple caught ikhtilat (making out) in Banda Aceh City was sentenced to 17 lashes each for violating Islamic law.

"Today, two people, one male, and one female, were lashed for violating Islamic law," said Deputy Mayor of Banda Aceh, Zainal Arifin, in Banda Aceh, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, November 10.

The uqubat whipping procession for a male couple with the initials AM (21) a private worker and a female MAM (23) a student was held at Taman Bustanussalatin (Taman Sari) Banda Aceh.

The couple were each sentenced to 20 lashes, and after deducting three months of detention, the remaining 17 lashes were left.

They were convicted of violating Article 25 paragraph (1) regarding Ikhtilat as regulated in Aceh Qanun Number 6 of 2014 concerning Jinayat Law. Both are not residents of Banda Aceh but migrants from other districts.

"We will not back down and continue to be istiqamah in the enforcement of Islamic law in Banda Aceh," said Zainal Arifin.

Zainal reminded outsiders who come to Banda Aceh to uphold the implementation of Islamic law. This is because most of the cases of violation of the Shari'a in the provincial capitals are carried out by migrants.

"Don't think that Banda Aceh can be a place to violate Islamic law, but must implement Islamic law," said the PAN politician.

Zainal Arifin also hopes that those who have been sentenced to whipping can change for the better and no longer repeat acts that violate Islamic law.

"Hopefully this can be a medicine, and we have to leave the act. We hope that no one will be whipped in the future," said Zainal Arifin.