Couples have been violently whipped in public outside a mosque

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Up to five couples were lashed between four and 22 times with a cane in Banda Aceh after serving several month in prison for cuddling, holding hands or having sex outside of marriage. These are crimes under the conservative Aceh region's Islamic law, the Daily Mail reports. Hundreds of spectators came with their children and watched a masked sharia officer strike the couples, who winced with extreme pain. Many filmed the ordeal on their mobile phones.

Religious officer Safriadi, who goes by one name, said: “We hope in the future there will be no more cases like this - it's embarrassing.” Public flogging is a common punishment for breaking Sharia law, which also banishes gambling, drinking alcohol and gay sex. Last December, two men who were caught having sex with underage girls were whipped 100 times each.

Human rights activists have blasted public lashings as being cruel, but despite Indonesia's President Joko Widodo demanding it end the act continues to gather widespread support in the region of Aceh, a province on the northwest tip of Sumatra Island. Just two weeks ago, two women were left unable to walk after a brutal public whipping for alleged “intimate relations” outside marriage. They were one of six couples flogged in Aceh.

Human rights activists have blasted public lashings as being cruel

The beatings were handed out after the couples were arrested several months ago following a police sweep of a hotel. The 12 people involved were arrested late last year, and all had served several months in prison prior to their punishment. Four received seven lashes after being simply being found in a room with a member of the opposite sex who was not a relative.