A dozen Indonesian men were caned for gambling in Indonesia's deeply Islamic Aceh province, an official said Thursday.

The 12, who were caught in separate incidents, were caned at a public field in Langsa city in eastern Aceh.

Prosecutor Irvon, who goes by one name, said they received the minimum punishment of six lashes out of a possible 12 for gambling.

"We demanded the minimum punishment in order to give them lessons so they will no more disobey the rules of their religion," Irvon said.

In May, 40 people were caned in Langsa city for gambling.

Aceh, on the northern tip of Sumatra island, adopted partial sharia law in 2001 as part of an autonomy package aimed at quelling separatist sentiment.

Caning carried out there is mainly aimed at causing shame rather than injury.

Rights group Amnesty International condemned the use of caning in Aceh province, urging the Indonesian government to repeal the by-law.

Nearly 90 percent of Indonesia's 234 million people are Muslims, but the vast majority practise a moderate form of Islam.