"rulers are not a cause of fear to good conduct, but to evil..."

I came across this article on the internet. I am sure that most westerners are aghast at the use of caning as a punishment. As a former Muslim, I am not. In fact, in light of medieval canonical punishments used by the Catholic Church, I don not even think it is extreme. Certainly, I am in the minority here, but if punishment (that is reasonable and respectful of the perpetrators' personhood) brings about repentence, it is good, in my opinion.