Medan – Punishment in the form of public floggings (hukum cambuk) for Muslims who violate Islamic law in Aceh will soon be implemented. The governor, the head of the Supreme Court for religious affairs (Mahkamah Syariah), the head of the High Court, the regional chief of police and the chief of the Aceh Iskandar Muda territorial military command are presently discussing who will execute the punishment.
”At the moment we are coordinating [with each other] to determine the execution [of the punishment], is it enough if the head of the High Court nominates the executor or does it need the governor (written authorisation). What is important is that within a short time the punishment will be carried out”, said the head of Aceh’s religious court, H Sofyan Saleh, who was contact by telephone in Banda Aceh on Friday May 13.
On April 30, a panel of judges headed by Drs H Abdullah Tengku Nafi in a religious court in the North Aceh regency of Bireuen handed down a sentence of six lashes each to seven Bireuen residents who were found guilty of gambling. The punishment represents the application of Qanun (local regulation) Number 13/2003 on Islamic Law in Aceh.
Bireuen regent Mustafa A Glanggang who was contacted in Bireuen says that the public flogging will be carried out in the grounds of the Jamik Mosque in Bireuen after Friday prayers. The religious court, the head of the state prosecutor’s offices, the district police, the district military commander and the regent of Bireuen are still waiting for a determination by the governor of Aceh on the execution of the punishment.
The face of the person carrying out the punishment will be covered so that no one will recognise them. The punishment will start with the sentence being read by the prosecutor followed by the punishment itself. According to the Qanun, a convicted person must wear clothing that reveals their body and may not be allowed to bleed from the wounds inflicted by the flogging.
The local government must also provide a health official and ambulance in the event that a resident witnessing the punishment faints. The location of the punishment meanwhile shall be at the main mosque of the capital city in the sub-district where the person was convicted.
“Carrying out a flogging will be a good lesson because it will be done before the public. Members of the convicted person may also be present. We hope that little by little social ills will disappear in Aceh”, said Glanggang.
Saleh explained that the implementation of Islamic law would also be valid for Muslim members of the security forces who violate Islamic laws who can also be punished in accordance with Syariah. (ham)
[Translated by James Balowski.]
