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A dozen young couples were flogged in the street in front of a cheering crowd for allegedly having sex outside marriage .

One of the young women could be heard whimpering as she limped away from the mob, with women flanking her as she struggled to walk unaided.

The scene of public humiliation took place in Banda Aceh, the capital of conservative Muslim province of Aceh, Indonesia .

The woman was one of 12 people arrested among six unmarried couples caught during a raid on a local hotel late last year, the The Sun reported .

(Image: Riau Images / Barcroft Images)

She is among at least two women who appeared unable to walk following their painful punishment on March 4, which took place in front of a mosque.

Sharia police marched the 12 to a public square outside a mosque where they were caned as punishment for having a sexual relationship outside of marriage.

(Image: Riau Images / Barcroft Images)

Awaiting them was a Sharia enforcer shrouded head to toe, except for a narrow slit in his robes.

The province is known for enforcing Islamic criminal codes, despite secular laws applying in most of the rest of Indonesia, a Muslim-majority country where most practice the faith moderately.

(Image: HOTLI SIMANJUNTAK/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

But in Aceh, alcohol is banned, and adultery, sex outside marriage and homosexual acts are among the crimes outlawed.

Punishments can include caning and whipping and imprisonment for those who break the strict laws, including travellers who fall foul of the rules.

(Image: Riau Images / Barcroft Images)

The province has been criticised by human rights watchdogs including Amnesty International, which last year condemned the canings.

The group saod some of those flogged included unmarried couples punished for showing affection in public.

Two men were last year whipped with canes 100 times each after being caught having sex with underage girls.

One begged for mercy as he received the lashes.

(Image: HOTLI SIMANJUNTAK/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has called for the public humiliations to stop.

At one point Aceh's Governor asked the capital's administration to bring the floggings indoors, to prevent investors being put off bringing their business to the region.

Hundreds have been punished since the rule was introduced in the area in 2005.

(Image: Riau Images / Barcroft Images)

However the footage shows the canings in public spaces continue and remain popular, drawing plenty of appreciative spectators to film and photograph the events.

Earlier this year a teen couple were flogged in Banda Aceh for cuddling in public. An audience gathered to watch and jeer as they were punished for being found guilty of the "moral crime" under Sharia law.

The head of the local public order agency, Marwan, explained of this week's spectacle: "This law is designed to have a deterrent effect, not only for the offenders but for the spectators who watch the caning," the Sun reported.

(Image: Riau Images / Barcroft Images)

He added: “The pain of being flogged is not that bad, the embarrassment is worse.”

However the footage showed appeared to show otherwise, as the woman was pictured crying and hunched over in agony as she left the public square.

Sharia courts also consider lesbian, gay and bisexual relationships a crime punishable with public canings, jail-time or fines.

Wearing tight clothing or missing Friday prayers can also attract punishment.

Unmarried couples are not allowed to sit together at the same table in public under the strict rules.