Two Indonesian Christians were publicly whipped for gambling in the province of Aceh, said the Wall Street Journal yesterday.

It said this was a rare case of non-Muslims being punished under Islamic law.

It also said this was indication Indonesia is shifting toward a more politicized brand of the religion associated with the Middle East.

The man and woman are residents of Aceh a province that has imposed strict Shariah law.

They were whipped at least six times each on Tuesday by a robed man wearing a mask and wielding a rattan cane.

Hundreds of onlookers jeered them as the punishment was carried out on a stage next to a mosque in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh.

Bywftv