Gamblers sentenced to flogging<\/p>\n
An Islamic sharia court in the staunchly-Muslim province of Aceh
\nhas sentenced seven men to a public lashing for petty gambling
\noffenses, a report said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The seven men from Pulo Kiton village in Bireuen district
\nprotested the verdict, with one of them saying that their
\ndetention for the last two months was punishment enough, the
\nSerambi newspaper said.<\/p>\n
\"The six lashes stay and cannot be reduced,\" Judge Abdullah
\nTengku Nafi told the defendants.<\/p>\n
The sentence was half the 12 lashes recommended by prosecutor
\nErwin Nasution after the men were caught playing cards for small
\namounts of money.<\/p>\n
Nafi gave the defendant seven days to appeal before they would
\nbe publicly lashed with a cane.<\/p>\n
The flogging, if it takes place, would be the first in Aceh
\nsince the government allowed the province to implement sharia law
\nas part of broader autonomy granted in 2001 to curb a separatist
\ninsurgency.<\/p>\n
The province, where armed separatists have been fighting since
\n1976, has so far only partially implemented the strict Islamic
\nlaws, enforcing Muslim dress codes, and other sharia requirements
\nsuch as prayers five times a day, fasting and alms.<\/p>\n
All gambling is illegal in Indonesia. --AFP<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gamblers-sentenced-to-flogging-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }