Malaysia has caned two women for breaking its strict religious laws by attempting to have consensual sex with each other.
The unnamed women, aged 22 and 32, are thought to have been caned six times at a courtroom in Terengganu state in front of family members and government officials.
Prison officers had been due to carry out the punishment at the region’s Sharia high court last week, but were delayed until Monday due to “technical reasons”.
The punishment was witnessed by dozens of people inside the packed public courtroom, sparking outrage from activists who have deemed the punishment “inhuman and degrading.” The incident reportedly marked the first time two women have been canned by authorities in Malaysia for attempting to have sex with each other.
Human rights activists have since voiced their concerns that the case will set bad a precedent for the LGBTQ community in the Muslim-majority country.