News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A crowd cheered as a young woman screamed in agony as she was repeatedly caned in punishment for being in 'close proximity' to a man she wasn't married to.

Nur Elita, 20, had to be removed from Baiturrahumim Mosque in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, in an ambulance after she was brutally punished for allegedly showing affection towards another university student.

Under Sharia law, men and women who are unmarried and unrelated are not allowed to get too close.

(Image: Barcroft Media)

After being brought to the stage as the crowd cheered, the woman was forced to kneel down while a masked man repeatedly whipped her with the cane.

She received five lashes and at the end of the punishment could be seen lying on the floor doubled over in pain.

Read more:

Also being caned was Wahyudi Saputra, 23, the man she was accused of getting too close to.

He was forced to stand while being whipped.

(Image: Barcroft Media)

Four other men were also forced to endure the punishment for gambling, which is also outlawed under Sharia law.

According to the Jakarta Post , the caning ceremony was carried out in front of the deputy mayor of Banda Aceh Zainal Arifin.

(Image: Barcroft Media)

Mayor Zainal explained to the crowd these punishments were not merely for show but were to be taken as a lesson by everyone.

He said: “Take these punishments as a lesson. What has been done by these convicts should not be taken as an example. And, I hope their canings in Meuraxa district today will be the last ever."

(Image: Barcroft Media)

Banda Aceh is the only province in Indonesia to implement Sharia Law, which was first introduced in 2003 following the province’s awarding of special autonomy status.