Courting couples targeted by vigilantes

Frowned upon: A couple sitting together at a beach in Bandar Aceh. The syariah police will patrol areas and catch unmarried couples if they are in isolated stretches and they can be charged with khalwat.

THREE weeks ago, 23-year-old Wen was chatting with his 20-year-old girlfriend Pipit in broad daylight at a dock in Langsa, Aceh, when three villagers came across the couple and decided to make a quick buck.

“They demanded 400,000 rupiah (RM110) or they would report us to the village head for khalwat (close proximity) and call the syariah police.