A woman collapses as she and a man are caned under Sharia law in Indonesia merely for being 'seen in close proximity' to each other without being married

Hundreds of people gathered outside a mosque in Indonesia to see a woman scream out in agony after being caned as a punishment for being in 'close proximity' to a man she wasn't married to.

Nur Elita was marched to the yard of Baiturrahumim Mosque in Banda Aceh for violating the region's strict Sharia laws, after she allegedly showed affectionate behaviour to a fellow university student.

Under the law men and women, who are not spouses, are not allowed to get too close due to the 'khalwat' offence and punishment is by public caning.

The woman is brought to the stage by two female members of the Sharia Police and is put in position on her knees

She screams out in agony after being whipped in a caning ceremony outside a mosque in Indonesia's Banda Aceh region


After her punishment was over the young woman collapsed and could be seen lying on the floor in agony 

Also being caned was the man she was accused of getting too close to and he was forced to stand while being whipped.

Meanwhile 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.

The man that she was accused of getting close to was also brought to the stage afterwards and received the same punishment, pictured