A young Muslim was publicly caned for standing too close to her boyfriend.
Marlina bin Abdul Rahman, 20, was beaten in front of a crowd in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, for the offence of khalwat, which forbids unmarried men and women from being alone together under Sharia law.
Public canings are less common in Indonesia than in Islamic countries in the Middle East.
However, stricter practices have been introduced since the turn of the century with religious police becoming increasingly active.
Aceh is considered one of the country’s most devout provinces.
Events to mark Valentine’s Day have previously been banned on the grounds they encourage sexual misconduct.
And senior politicians in the region have recently issued several anti-gay statements while an online messaging service removed emoticons to show homosexuality.
Pictures of two girls holding hands and a pair of cartoon boys embracing to the slogan “Love is love” were among the withdrawn options.
