or to observe any other Islamic practice? Were they punished for not doing so?
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Government force people to act Islamically in public. They don’t force people to do things in their houses. For example, if a woman decided to wear a bikini in public, the government most stop her. If a person decides to drink alcohol, we must stop him and punish him in accordance to Islamic teachings. Likewise, if a person is on the streets and doesn’t pray, he must be punished. But if he is in his house, no one can force him to go out and pray.