More On Saudi Rape Victim Sentenced To 200 Lashes
| December 1st, 2007The Independent today has an article with more information about this case, including the woman’s own description of her experiences from an interview she gave to Human Rights Watch. (May be triggering.)
Some parts of her story will sound familiar no matter where in the world you live.
She said: “They [the judges] said to me, ‘What kind of relationship did you have with this individual? Why did you leave the house? Do you know these men?’ They used to yell at me. They were insulting. The judge refused to allow my husband in the room with me. One judge told me I was a liar because I didn’t remember the dates well. They kept saying, ‘Why did you leave the house? Why didn’t you tell your husband?’ [...]
The ordeal is still not over. The Qatif girl and her husband face an intensely uncertain future. She has been attacked by her brother, who reportedly tried to kill her. Her lawyer, Al-Lahem, believes she may now be pursued by Sunni extremists through the sharia courts.
Her appalling treatment was summed up in one exchange between her husband and the judges at the first sentencing. “It was like she was the criminal,” he remembered.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:59 am
UPDATE: Saudi King Pardons Rape Victim”
The press is, however, trying to make it clear that the pardon does not mean that the sentence was wrong. And a number of contributers to conservative websites are claiming that “he has breached the rules of religion in order to appease critics in the West.”
This comment was written by bean.Report this comment to the moderators