Malaysian Muslim lesbian couple caned in front of 100 people for attempting to have sex

Two Malaysian Muslim women convicted under Islamic laws of attempting to have sex were caned today in a rare public whipping that was slammed by lawmakers and rights activists as a form of torture.

Lawyers and activists said the women, aged 22 and 32, were seated on stools facing the judges and given six strokes from a light rattan cane on their backs by female prison officers.