A YOUNG woman has been viciously caned in public as a punishment for being in “close proximity” to a man who wasn’t her spouse.

The 20-year-old Acehnese woman, Nur Elita, was said to commit the offence of “kwalwat” — talking or being in “close proximity” to a man other than her husband or relative — under the Islamic sharia law in Banda Aceh, Indonesia on December 28.

Aceh is the only province of Indonesia enforcing the Islamic Sharia law which sees offenders punished by public caning.

The crowd cheered as Ms Elita was struck by a man wearing a mask.

Elita, who received five strokes, along with Mr Saputra, 23, doubled over in pain and clutched her shoulder before being carried to an ambulance by officials following her punishment.

The man she was accused of having contact with, Wahyudi Saputra, was forced to stand while he was also publicly caned.

The caning of the students happened in front of a cheering crowd outside a mosque in Banda Aceh, the Jakarta Post reports.

Banda Aceh Deputy Mayor Zainal Arifin said the punishments should be considered “as a lesson” for those tempted to violate Sharia law in the province.

“What has been done by these convicts should not be taken as an example,” he said.

“And to the public, I ask that you do not isolate those who have been convicted here today.

“And also, those who have been convicted are reminded not to repeat the same mistakes.”

Four other men were caned for gambling.

In September, 34 people were caned in public in Aceh province.

The alleged offences, including the latest canings, were gambling and affectionate contact between an unmarried couple, also known as ‘khalwat’.

The Aceh province implemented a Sharia-based law system in 2003 following the awarding of a special autonomy status, the Jakarta Post reports.