Women Caned for Gambling

(Jakarta, Indonesia) Here's another story attesting to the absolutely miserable lives women (and men) lead under Sharia law. Being a Westerner, I find it difficult to understand how they put up with it.

From the Mainichi Daily News:

Indonesia caned women Friday for the first time after they were accused of illegal gambling in the staunchly conservative province of Aceh.

More than 1,000 people gathered after Friday prayers to watch as four women were struck in the back with rattan canes, each receiving seven blows, Alias Abubakar, an official in the central town of Takengon told private-radio El-Shinta.

Authorities confiscated 65,000 rupiah (US$7) from the women, who were found guilty of betting on card games, he said.

To be fair, some men were also recently flogged for gambling, so the prohibition is not gender specific. Nonetheless, women are restricted and punished much more under Islamic law than men. In fact, women are treated almost like pieces of property.

Naturally, since Sharia law is not a product of the U.S., there is no outrage by international human rights organizations. However, if caning occurred at Guantanamo Bay, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International would be catalysts for violent protests and riots worldwide.