Dutch woman jailed in Qatar after reporting rape may face charges

[MariaThinks]

Source: CNN


Abu Dhabi (CNN) — A Dutch woman who reported being raped while on holiday in Qatar has been jailed since mid-March and could face charges of adultery, according to her lawyer.

The 22-year-old woman, whom CNN has identified only as Laura, was at a hotel bar having drinks with a friend, but then had a drink that made her feel "very unwell," according to Brian Lokollo, a lawyer who was hired by the woman's family.

She reportedly woke up in an unfamiliar location and realized "to her great horror" that she had been raped after her drink was spiked, Lokollo said.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/12/middleeast/qatar-dutch-woman-rape-report-held/index.html

[Feeling the Bern]

1. More reasons to avoid Islamic theocracies for vacation.

[David__77]

9. I would not visit a country governed by Islamic law.

No way.

[geek tragedy]

2. the state department should warn against travel to such retrograde theocracies

The woman here is being victimized again by the government.

[blackspade]

3. The Qatar government flies cover for rapists.

Sickening.

She gets raped and faces adultery charges?

[Odin2005]

5. Best to just avoid the entire Arabian Peninsula.

It's mostly just a bunch of Bedouin barbarians who got suddenly rich from oil, the kind of people who back it the day made a living off of making smash and grab raids on settled Middle-Easterners.

[skepticscott]

6. A lot here that isn't being told

Where was her "friend" in all of this? Was her "friend" the one who raped her, and if so, why aren't they being charged with at least the same thing she is? If not, where was the "friend" in all of this, and why is there no account from them of what happened?

[Eugene]

7. According to the BBC, the alleged rapist is also under arrest.

He claims the sex was consensual.

The lawyers are watching what they say about this.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-36508590

[skepticscott]

8. Interesting...the BBC story makes no mention of a "friend"

that she was drinking with. And the account of hers that the BBC reports opens up a lot of other possibilities about who could have drugged her drink, especially if she was alone.

[BB1]

15. on some dutch websites

there's talk of her and the 'friend' being in Qatar for negotionable affection. The government now has that looked in to.

[oberliner]

17. What is negotionable affection?

Can you clarify?

[smirkymonkey]

10. Why any woman would go to a Middle Eastern hell-hole for vacation

I'll never know. Still, what happened wasn't her fault and I hope the rapist is prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Although in a country like that I doubt very much that she will see justice.

[roamer65]

11. Qatar is a state sponsor of Daesh terrorism.

Not surprised at all of their behavior in the case.

[Akicita]

12. Just remember. It is a tiny minority of Muslims who treat women as less than equal to men.

[Marrah_G]

13. This is why I will never visit the middle east (and a few other places)

No matter how much I love history and would like to see certain places, I won't go anywhere with archaic and misogynistic laws.

[bdwker]

14. Bad move visiting that country.

[oberliner]

16. Something is very wrong with the world

And humanity in general.

[muriel_volestrangler]

18. Dutch woman held in Qatar after rape claim to be deported

A Dutch woman who spent three months in custody in Qatar after reporting that she was raped is to be deported having been found guilty of adultery.

The 22-year-old from Utrecht was given a one-year prison sentence by a Qatari court, suspended for three years. She was not present at the hearing. The woman was fined 3,000 riyal (£600).

The man she accused of attacking her, a Syrian national, was sentenced to 140 lashes for having extramarital sex and drinking alcohol. He was not charged with rape.

He claimed that the sex had been consensual and that the woman had gone to the authorities following a row. The man alleged that she had demanded money, and tried to steal his watch and mobile phone.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/13/dutch-woman-qatar-rape-claim-to-be-deported

As her father says, deportation is good - I bet she never wants to set foot in the benighted country again. The suspended sentence is in a way irrelevant, but the fine is victim-blaming. I don't like a sentence of lashes for anything.