60-Year-Old Christian Woman Caned for Selling Alcohol

A 60-year-old Christian woman in Indonesia's Aceh province was whipped nearly 30 times with a rattan cane in front of a large crowd for selling alcohol.

Aceh is the only province in the mostly Muslim country that applies Islamic Sharia law. Public canings occur regularly and usually draw big crowds.

Anyone caught engaging in adultery, same-sex relationships, drinking, or simply associating with unmarried members of the opposite sex can be caned.

The law used to only apply to Muslims, but now can be used against non-Muslims in certain situations, according to an official who spoke with AFP.

The caning of the Christian woman is reported to be the first use of Sharia law against a non-Muslim in Aceh province.

Persecution against Christian churches in Indonesia is still rampant, especially in Aceh province. But in other parts of this predominantly Muslim country, churches are seeing phenomenal growth.