Nurdin Hasan, Banda Aceh – Shariah Police in West Aceh said on Sunday that they have arrested total of 35 food vendors in the district for selling meals during Ramadan while other people were fasting.

"We've carried out operations [targeting warung owners] in accordance with a request by the West Aceh administration, which asked sellers not to sell food during the day out of respect for those who fast," West Aceh Shariah Police chief Khairuzzadi said.

The 35 people ran street-side food stalls, or warungs, and served rice and assorted side dishes.

Aceh, Indonesia's westernmost province, is the only province in Indonesia that applies a set of Shariah-inspired bylaws, known locally as qanun.

Khairuzzadi added that his office, with support from the Indonesian military and police officers, conducted raids on food hawkers across the district.

"Whatever excuse they had, we didn't accept it. It is forbidden to sell rice in the day time. It's against the qanun in Aceh," Khariuzzadi said.

The 35 sellers were released shortly after they were arrested and were briefed on Shariah law by the officers. They were placed on parole, however, and are required to report back to the Shariah police twice a week until mid-August.

"We can still educate them since this is their first offense. There is no need to cane them in front of the public," he said. "They've been asked to write a letter saying that they won't sell food in the daylight [during Ramadan] again."