The Saudi government tried to defend its decision to increase a rape victim's punishment for being alone with a man not her relative from 90 lashes to 200 lashes and 6 months in prison. Once again, the House of Saud proves that its country is not a safe place for women:
The Saudi Justice Ministry Tuesday issued a "clarification" of a court's handling of a rape case and the increased punishment -- including 200 lashes --meted out to the victim.The case, which has sparked media scrutiny of the Saudi legal system, centers on a married woman. The 19-year-old, and an unrelated man, were abducted, and she raped, by a group of seven men more than a year ago, according to Abdulrahman al-Lahim, the attorney who represented her in court.
The woman was originally sentenced in October 2006 to 90 lashes. But that sentence was more than doubled to 200 lashes and six months in prison by the Qatif General Court, because, a court source told Middle Eastern daily newspaper Arab News, she spoke to the media about the case.
Al-Lahim told CNN his law license was revoked last week by a judge because he spoke to the Saudi-controlled media about the case. Video Watch the emotional toll the crime took on the rape
The Justice Ministry acknowledged in its statement Tuesday that the attorney is no longer on the case, saying he was punished by a disciplinary committee for lawyers because he "exhibited disrespectful behavior toward the court, objected to the rule of law and showed ignorance concerning court instructions and regulations."
It added that the permanent committee of the Supreme Judicial Council recommended an increased sentence for the woman after further evidence against her came to light when she appealed her original sentence.
The judges of that committee also increased the sentences for the perpetrators based on the level of their involvement in the crime. Their sentences -- which had been two to three years in prison -- were increased to two to nine years, according to al-Lahim.
The ministry also said it welcomes constructive criticism and insisted that the parties' rights were preserved in the judicial process.
The parties' rights were preserved? The rape victim's rights were not preserved; they were stomped and spit upon. It will be a miracle in itself if this poor woman survives to serve her 6 months in prison after all 200 lashes are carried out. That's probably what this sentence is designed to do: kill her.
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Middle East, Saudi Arabia
Comments (18)
Hi: You're correct, the Ho... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Stephen R Maloney | November 20, 2007 8:13 PM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Hi: You're correct, the House of Saud excels mainly in barbarism and hatred of women.
I'd like to inspire you to look into the William Russell campaign against John Murtha. William is a legitimate American hero, veteran of Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. Please take a quick trip to his site: http://williamrussellforcongress.com and offer any kind of support you can. I write regularly about William's campaign on my blog: http://camp2008victorya.blogspot.com. I also blog at the "legendary" MurthaMustGo.
steve maloney
ambridge, pa
It would help keep the Russell momentum going if you could bring this to the attention of your readers.
1. Posted by Stephen R Maloney | November 20, 2007 8:13 PM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 20, 2007 20:13
2. Posted by Mitchell | November 20, 2007 9:26 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Religion of Peace.
Nothing to see here.
Move along please.
2. Posted by Mitchell | November 20, 2007 9:26 PM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on November 20, 2007 21:26
3. Posted by Scott in CA | November 20, 2007 9:32 PM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Saudi Arabia is a barbaric theocratic police state with oil. It's time to call it what it is and move on. There are no "rights" SA - period.
3. Posted by Scott in CA | November 20, 2007 9:32 PM |
Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Posted on November 20, 2007 21:32
4. Posted by BillyBob | November 20, 2007 10:50 PM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
I cannot wait till the day the Saudi oil wells dry up. I wish all the middle east would dry up and those assholes would go back to screwing camels in the desert while living in tents.
4. Posted by BillyBob | November 20, 2007 10:50 PM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 20, 2007 22:50
5. Posted by Eric | November 20, 2007 10:56 PM | Score: -2 (4 votes cast)
From what I understand, she was sentenced for being in a car with an unrelated man, not for the rape. To western eyes that seems like a pretty stupid law, but it is the law there. And she surely knew it.
The extra time was for pissing off the judges. Piss off a judge in the US and see if that doesn't get you extra time here too.
But you're right, it's a barbaric place. I had a friend who went to SA in the '70s as an engineer for Bechtel. They told him the first thing he should do when he arrived is arrange surreptitious passage out of the country with a freighter captain. In Saudi Arabia, you can be thrown in jail for a contract dispute with a citizen. And they don't feed you - your family is supposed to bring food.
5. Posted by Eric | November 20, 2007 10:56 PM |
Score: -2 (4 votes cast)
Posted on November 20, 2007 22:56
6. Posted by reader | November 20, 2007 11:07 PM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Yeah, let's keep the Russell momentum going, Maloney.
"Hey Blue Dog Democrat/politically independent friend, have you heard of William Russell? He's a political upstart, a real maverick who isn't afraid to let jerks make off-topic blog comments on a post about the human rights record of Saudi Arabia."
I'd vote for Mr. Russell if part of his campaign was denouncing the war in Iraq and advocating a hard line against the Wahabbist slime in Riyadh.
6. Posted by reader | November 20, 2007 11:07 PM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 20, 2007 23:07
7. Posted by Jim Addison | November 21, 2007 1:13 AM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Islamic law treats women as chattel property. They have more rights than slaves did, but only to a limited extent.
After all, if the ideal is the 7th Century . . .
~~~~~~~~~~
Stephen R Maloney ~ You should address such story ideas to the "tips line" at tips@wizbangblog.com, which all our writers receive. It will give your story a better chance of being picked up without annoying authors or readers with off-topic posts. Thanks.
reader ~ The odds are long against Russell denouncing the war in Iraq, but it's okay. I doubt he would welcome your support anyway.
7. Posted by Jim Addison | November 21, 2007 1:13 AM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 21, 2007 01:13
8. Posted by faisal turki al-saud | November 21, 2007 2:13 AM | Score: -2 (4 votes cast)
the whore deserves it! *deserves it*, i tell you! next time, we will NOT show our magnificent islamic mercy! we ever catch her in a car again, we're gonna *stone* her! hell, we may even declare her an honorary christian, and crucify her! how 'bout that, kaffirs? huh?!?! you got problem with THAT?!??
8. Posted by faisal turki al-saud | November 21, 2007 2:13 AM |
Score: -2 (4 votes cast)
Posted on November 21, 2007 02:13
9. Posted by Paul Hooson | November 21, 2007 6:44 AM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
More bad stuff from a U.S. "friend".
9. Posted by Paul Hooson | November 21, 2007 6:44 AM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 21, 2007 06:44
10. Posted by elisa | November 21, 2007 6:53 AM | Score: -3 (5 votes cast)
Please dont equate Saudi law with Islamic law. They're not even close.
10. Posted by elisa | November 21, 2007 6:53 AM |
Score: -3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on November 21, 2007 06:53
11. Posted by Oyster | November 21, 2007 7:41 AM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Elisa: It IS Islamic Law that a woman cannot be alone in the company of a non-family-male. I'd say the Saudis are pretty close.
11. Posted by Oyster | November 21, 2007 7:41 AM |
Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on November 21, 2007 07:41
12. Posted by Gmac | November 21, 2007 9:53 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
SA is an Islamic state and has draconian laws by any standard. They just don't care what the rest of the world thinks and will do as they see fit until the money spigot gets cut off.
Until then they are our 'friends' and as such they will be treated with kid gloves diplomatically no matter how much they are dispised by the general populace here.
They are also the #1 sponsor of islamofasist terrorism.
ROPMA
12. Posted by Gmac | November 21, 2007 9:53 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 21, 2007 09:53
13. Posted by Clay | November 21, 2007 10:39 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Please dont equate Saudi law with Islamic law. They're not even close.
You're kidding, right? Please tell me you are.
13. Posted by Clay | November 21, 2007 10:39 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 21, 2007 10:39
14. Posted by Veeshir | November 21, 2007 12:50 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
More bad stuff from a U.S. "friend".
That from the man who constantly defends the commie dictatorship in totalitarian China where they kill democracy advocates.
Stay classy man.
14. Posted by Veeshir | November 21, 2007 12:50 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 21, 2007 12:50
15. Posted by Cartman | November 21, 2007 12:59 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"From what I understand, she was sentenced for being in a car with an unrelated man, not for the rape. To western eyes that seems like a pretty stupid law, but it is the law there. And she surely knew it."
Which proves that some laws are just abominations.
15. Posted by Cartman | November 21, 2007 12:59 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on November 21, 2007 12:59
16. Posted by reader | November 21, 2007 2:11 PM | Score: -1 (3 votes cast)
Well, there are different kinds of Islamic law. Suffis, for instance, don't torture or kill women for discretions such as this.
Don't paint with too broad a brush. After all, you wouldn't want people in other countries to confuse you with one of Bush's 28 percenters here, right?
16. Posted by reader | November 21, 2007 2:11 PM |
Score: -1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 21, 2007 14:11
17. Posted by Spurwing Plover | November 21, 2007 2:44 PM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Suadi Injustice Misstrey the scales are tilted too far to one side
17. Posted by Spurwing Plover | November 21, 2007 2:44 PM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 21, 2007 14:44
18. Posted by Herman | November 22, 2007 12:27 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Maybe Bushie should talk to his good buddy, Bandar Bush about all this. Nah, no matter what Saudi Arabia does, no matter that most of the 9/11 terrorists came from Saudi Arabia (none from Iraq by the way), The Chimp would never come down hard on the Saudis, for he loves the oil too much.
18. Posted by Herman | November 22, 2007 12:27 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on November 22, 2007 12:27