The Islamic Defenders Front, a hard-line group known for acts of vigilante violence throughout Indonesia, erected a banner at the mosque that declared the group was ready to defend Shariah law whatever the cost. Four heterosexual couples also were caned on Tuesday, receiving a far lesser number of strokes for affection outside marriage.īanda Aceh resident Ibrahim Muhayat said far more people attended the publicly meted-out punishment than usual because like him, many wanted to witness Indonesia's first-ever caning of gay men. A Shariah court last week sentenced each man to 85 strokes, but they were caned 83 times after a remission for time spent in prison.
