As Muslim majority area in Indonesia, Aceh is enforcing Sharia customs and law as Qanun Jinayat (behaviour-governing bylaw), aside of national positive law system, for any Muslims and non-Muslims in Aceh to follow these Islamic legal code. Violations of sharia include drinking liquor, khalwat (affectionate contact between an unmarried couple), gambling, and not wearing headscarf or wearing tight pants by women.
In front of Grand Mosque of Bireun, Aceh, after the noon praying, the sharia law violators are punished with nine lashes. Before the caning punishment is performed, the sharia police officers secure the area from underage children and keep the distance from spectators and stage. The violators are punished after sharia court proofs that they are gambling by predicting certain buses names that pass the main road.
By using small rattan with approximately 2 meters length, the secret-tormentor in full-covered suit will perform the caning punishment after the sharia police announces the names of violators and their violations to the audiences and in front of the high ranked government officers. Beforehand, the medical practitioners will check the physical and psychological conditions of the violators before the caning, then change the suit into white uniforms to the violators.
After being slashed at their backs, the violators will be escorted to the sharia police bus to be checked and healed by medical practitioners by using traditional anti-welling oil.
After the Friday prayer, the stage and tent are constructed in front of Bireun Grand Mosque, Aceh. Usually, the canning punishments are conducted on Friday, after the noon prayer.
The guarded Sharia officer cars are entering the mosque with the violators.
After they are arriving in the mosque, the medical practitioners will check the violators condition. Both of physical and mental health, before the punishment.
The Sharia policeman holds the rattan that will be used to whip the violators. The rattan diameter is approximately 2 inches with 2 meters length.
In front of the stage, some Sharia policewomen guard the visitors and spectators. During the punishment, the children are forbidden to spectate, or stand around the area.
In the end of preparation, the local officials will sit under the tent to witness the punishment processes.
One by one, the violators will be escorted to the stage for having the punishment.
Then the executor, usually covered in full clothes from head to toe, will whip the violators with the number of punishment. The executor must cover himself in order not to be recognized by anyone.
After the punishment, the violators will be guarded to the car to be treated with traditional anti-welling oil.
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