Indonesian woman becomes latest person to be caned ‘for standing near boyfriend’

A 20-year-old woman in Indonesia has been publicly caned for standing too close to her boyfriend, becoming the 14th person to be flogged this month in the same province.

The unnamed woman was accused of breaking Islamic Sharia law, which strictly forbids unmarried couples to become intimate, and was flogged in front of a crowd in Banda Aceh province.

She was escorted onto a stage outside a mosque wearing a headdress and was lashed with a cane.

Incidents of the punishment have reportedly increased recently in Indonesia.

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