If You're Raped In A Muslim Country, You're Guilty Of "Adultery"
This Dutch woman, a rape victim when she was in Qatar, made the mistake of reporting her rape to authorities, which means she confessed to committing a crime (under Islam).
Yes, being raped is a crime under Islam -- unless you are a woman captured by Muslim soldiers, in which case, they get to do what they want with you.
The story from DW.com:
A 22-year-old Dutch woman who was held in Qatar for months after telling police she was raped was released on Monday, according to Dutch authorities. She faced an adultery charge for having sex out of wedlock.A court in the Qatari capital Doha handed her a one-year suspended prison sentence during a brief hearing on Monday. The woman also received a fine of 3,000 Qatari riyals ($800 or 710 euros) and will be deported after paying the fine, said court officials.
The Dutch ambassador to Qatar, Yvette Burghgraef-van Eechoud, who was present in court, told reporters the embassy is helping her to leave Qatar within the next few days.
...The male defendant, who also did not appear in court on Monday, was given a sentence of 100 lashes for adultery and an additional 40 lashes for consuming alcohol. He will not serve any time in jail.
...In mid-March, the Dutch woman, who was on vacation with a friend, went out for drinks at a hotel bar and believed that someone "messed with her drink," her lawyer Brian Lokollo said.
She remembered nothing until waking up the following morning in an unfamiliar apartment "and realized to her great horror, that she had been raped," he said.The woman reported her rape to police and was immediately detained after reporting the attack on suspicion of having sex out of wedlock. Her alleged attacker insisted that she consented and asked for money.
Why anyone goes to Qatar or other Muslim countries on vacation is absolutely beyond me. You have to have a fantasy view of Islam -- which, admittedly, I had before 9/11 (before I started reading in and about Islam). But still, I like to think I wouldn't have been such an idiot as to think you can go to a place like Qatar on vacation.
Sorry, I can't get worked up about this. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Respect the culture and all of that.
I R A Darth Aggie at June 13, 2016 6:34 AM
But still, I like to think I wouldn't have been such an idiot as to think you can go to a place like Qatar on vacation.
It must be the superb weather and natural beauty.
Kevin at June 13, 2016 9:09 AM
Didn't this happen several years ago?
NicoleK at June 13, 2016 9:49 AM
NicoleK, it seems familiar, but the DW.com site has this Date 13.06.2016 on it so...I dunno.
I R A Darth Aggie at June 13, 2016 10:03 AM
Something like this happens every few years NicoleK. If you are talking about locals and not rich foreigners then it happens several times a year.
Their laws are quite clear. Sex outside of marriage is illegal. Even if it is involuntary. She is lucky she isn't going to be executed.
Mind, the term marriage is a bit flexible. Prostitutes who know a friendly imam can get one day marriages with minimal fuss. And that is completely legal by their laws.
Ben at June 13, 2016 10:13 AM
Sorry, I can't get worked up about this. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Respect the culture and all of that.
I R A Darth Aggie at June 13, 2016 6:34 AM
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You're joking, right?
Even if you're not, people drink at legal bars in Qatar. Where's the "disrespect"?
lenona at June 13, 2016 11:39 AM
You're joking, right?
Even if you're not, people drink at legal bars in Qatar. Where's the "disrespect"?
lenona at June 13, 2016 11:39 AM
When you are vacationing in a rape culture, it might be smart to stay out of the bars, legal or not.
Considerably more dangerous than becoming blotto at a Frat party at any college in the US.
In short, don't confuse legal behavior with smart behavior. Two very distinct things.
Isab at June 13, 2016 12:41 PM
IRA, I'm sure the woman in question would not have reported her rape to the police if she knew that she would be jailed for it.
Knowledge like this should be in travel advisories so travelers know what the local customs are and don't run afoul of then. For-warned is for-armed.
Janet C at June 13, 2016 1:35 PM
Knowledge like this should be in travel advisories so travelers know what the local customs are and don't run afoul of then. For-warned is for-armed.
People who have enough money and time to vacation in foreign lands should do some investigation into what they're getting into, and have enough command of the language to exchange pleasantries, thank you, where is your restroom, and do you speak a language I speak?
One should also know how to get to their local consulate, just in case things go sideways.
To expect the locals to adhere to your home country's cultural norms is...a form of racism, isn't it?
I R A Darth Aggie at June 13, 2016 2:08 PM
In short, don't confuse legal behavior with smart behavior. Two very distinct things.
Indeed.
In theory, I, a pasty white boy, can walk thru Harlem at 3am on a Saturday and expect to not be harmed, harassed or otherwise inconvenienced.
I am unwilling to put that to the test.
I R A Darth Aggie at June 13, 2016 2:14 PM
I know a pasty white boy who did that IRA. The key is to mess up your clothes, whistle in a distorted tune, and smile really big at anyone who gets close. Few people want to tangle with the crazy dude.
Ben at June 13, 2016 5:47 PM
IRA, I probably wouldn't be willing to do that either, although I think the odds of being harmed/harassed/inconvenienced are probably less than you and I think.
Last spring, on my first visit to New York in a long time, my friend from D.C. (who met me there) and I walked the length of Central Park, south to north. There's a Metro stop at 110th & Lenox, and he had to go meet another friend for a late lunch so he left and I decided to continue north on Lenox by myself. It wasn't that bad but there were pockets of young thuggy-looking guys hanging out in front of some stores and it was enough to make me a little uneasy so after about 5-6 blocks I did a little loop back to the park.
A couple days later, I went to Times Square after visiting Bryant Park (Bryant Park is, in my opinion, the most beautiful spot in New York), spotted a couple of cops and went up to talk to them. I asked them if there were areas of the city that I should be wary of walking around by myself. I said "for example, Harlem...how's that?" And one cop said "Harlem? Why ya wanna go there? There's nothing but black people there." I was suprised that he'd say that to a tourist, but I replied, "the architecture. I take photos and it's supposed to have great architecture." Then I laughed as the other cop said to his partner, "See, he likes awkitektcha", as if he had to translate what I said into New Yawkese for his partner.
I never did go back into Harlem on my own but later that week, on Friday evening, my friend and I, after having a drink in Morningside Heights, decided to head over to Harlem for dinner and we came across the Harlem Tavern (on 116th and Frederick Douglass Blvd) a very cool place with a huge outdoor patio in front. Good burgers, fries and people-watching.
On my return trip this spring, I didn't go to Harlem but next spring I'm going to venture through it to check out the awkitekcha.
JD at June 13, 2016 8:58 PM
Why anyone goes to Qatar or other Muslim countries on vacation is absolutely beyond me.
I'd go to one Muslim country: Turkey. But that's because it's secular, thanks to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (although I believe Islamist forces are growing there now.) My younger sister, her husband and two kids went to Istanbul about ten years ago and loved it.
I'd also like to see Beirut, but it's not a burning desire. Oh, also Iran...if the reasonable people there ever manage to get rid of their crazed theocratic government (sadly, probably unlikely in my lifetime.) Almost with fail, the nicest Muslims I've met in Seattle (and in my travels) have been from Iran. Plus, Iranian women...gorgeous.
But other Muslim countries in that area? Naw, I'll pass.
JD at June 13, 2016 9:59 PM
When you are vacationing in a rape culture, it might be smart to stay out of the bars, legal or not.
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I agree, but as I said, I was referring to IRA's implication that she had done something "disrespectful" of the culture. She hadn't.
lenona at June 14, 2016 10:47 AM
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