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"The Justice Ministry maintained ... that the ruling was legal and followed the 'the book of God and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad,' noting that she had 'confessed to doing what God has forbidden.'"
Note to the Saudis: Please keep trying to defend an indefensible verdict to a global audience. It only further demonstrates the incompatibility of Sharia law with human rights. An update on this story. "Justice Ministry: Saudi Gang Rape Victim Was an Adulteress," from Fox News:
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — The Saudi Justice Ministry announced that a girl gang raped by seven men and then sentenced to six months prison and 200 lashes for adultery had confessed to cheating on her husband, in its latest response to the negative international reaction to the incident.
The statement, which was carried by the Saudi Press Agency late on Saturday, confirmed that the flogging sentence against the rape victim would be carried out and condemned foreign interference.
"The Saudi justice minister expressed his regret about the media reports over the role of the women in this case which put out false information and wrongly defend her," said the statement. "The charged girl is a married woman who confessed to having an affair with the man she was caught with."
In 2006 a Shiite Saudi 19-year-old, known only as the "Girl from Qatif," said she had recently been married and met a high school friend in his car to retrieve a picture of herself from him. While in a car with him, two men got into the vehicle and drove them to a secluded area where others waited, and then she and her companion were both raped.
She was sentenced to prison and 90 lashes for being alone with a man not related to her and when her lawyer, Abdul Rahman al-Lahem, appealed the sentence, he was removed from the case, his license suspended and the penalty doubled to 200.
The increase in sentence received heavy coverage by the international media and prompted expressions of astonishment from the U.S. government, while Canada called it "barbaric."
The Justice Ministry maintained, however, that the ruling was legal and followed the "the book of God and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad," noting that she had "confessed to doing what God has forbidden."
The ministry added that the woman and her husband were "convinced on the verdict and agreed to it."
The alleged rape has triggered a rare debate about Saudi Arabia's legal system, in which judges have wide discretion in punishing a criminal, rules of evidence are shaky and sometimes no lawyers are present.
Justice in Saudi Arabia is administered by a system of religious courts according to the kingdom's strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law. Judges -- appointed by the king on the recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council -- have complete discretion to set sentences, except in cases where Sharia outlines a punishment, such as capital crimes.
That means that no two judges would likely hand down the same verdict for similar crimes. A rapist, for instance, could receive anywhere from a light or no sentence to death, depending on the judge's discretion.
The Justice Ministry's account of the incident differed substantially from that given by the woman and her lawyer and largely glosses over her rape by seven men, focusing instead on her plan to meet her lover for tryst in his car "in a dark place where they stayed for a while."
"Then they where spotted by the other defendants as the woman was in an indecent condition as she had tossed away her clothes, then the assault occurred on her and the man," the statement added.
Under Saudi Arabia's strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law, women are not allowed in public in the company of men other than their male relatives. Also, women in Saudi Arabia are often sentenced to flogging for adultery and other crimes.
The seven men convicted of raping the woman were given prison sentences of two to nine years. The initial sentences for the men convicted of the gang rape ranged from 10 months to five years in prison.
Posted by Marisol at November 25, 2007 7:11 PM
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The Justice Ministry -- what a joke -- the only thing missing is the JUSTICE.
Posted by: champ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at November 25, 2007 7:38 PM
It is interesting how the testimony of another defendant (read: rapist) is used to convict the woman, and how she and her husband "agreed to the verdict."
What would their alternative(s) be?
Recall how sanctions were harsh against the South African government because of "apartheid." (Harsh until the communist ANC got in, and presto.) How much worse the Saudi government operates, yet we flock there for jobs, take their bribes, and tolerate these outrageous reports. And they expect it.
Posted by: CapitalistGig at November 25, 2007 8:12 PM
Now about the rape of the man by the same people who raped the girl: what happens to him? Does he get a certain number of lashes for allowing that to happen?
Posted by: Hugh at November 25, 2007 8:19 PM
It's high time to let the Saudis feel the weight of world opinion. Let them know that first of all the eyes of the world are upon them, that the world's media will not let this one pass, that their judicial system is an abomination.
I've emailed the Saudi Embassy in Washington at this email address: info@saudiembassy.net. You may be able to find other addresses.
Email them links to media coverage, the more the better.
You might also want to to remind them that their merciful Allah might just want to bestow a little mercy on this poor soul -- heaven knows, she's getting none from the Saudi courts.
Polite language but hard-hitting words of truth can be effective.
at November 25, 2007 8:32 PM
What exactly was this girl sentenced for? It's important that the Saudis be pressured to tell the world what specific crimes this girl committed and the prescribed punishment for each.
They tell us she was an adultress (how many lashes for that?); they tell us she was alone with an unrelated male (how many lashes for that?; they tell us she was gang-raped (how many lashes for that?; they tell us that she had the nerve to go to the media (how many lashes for that?); they tell us that her lawyer also had the nerve to go to the media (how many lashes for that?.
It seems that up until now Saudi justice has been unaccountable. The Age of the Internet will put a crimp in their style.
Posted by: Jen at November 25, 2007 8:58 PM
It figured that they'd come up with a twist like this. Anything to justify barbarity in the name of their god.
Posted by: ISLAMSFORLOSERS at November 25, 2007 9:08 PM
Marisol,
Barbaric as this punishment is by our standards, the Saudis are just following the only rules of "civilization" they've know for 1400 years.
As you noted, let them (and other Sharia wannabe nations) continue down this path. Perhaps more sunlight will expose these savages for what they really are...well, savages.
at November 25, 2007 9:47 PM
Scummy Arabia: birthplace of sanctified gang rape.
Posted by: profitsbeard at November 25, 2007 10:01 PM
And this is supposed to make it all better?
Posted by: tanstaafl at November 25, 2007 10:11 PM
The slimy, sanctimonious, Saudi scumbags do not have to justify their judicial system to anyone. Those self-righteous savages are beyond contempt; why do we tolerate them? Why do we allow them to build their filthy, hate-mongering mosques in our country and send their specially trained Wahabbi demons to disseminate "pure" islam on our soil?
They do not control the flow of oil and could not stop it if they wanted to, so why?
One more rhetorical question: Will history reveal the names of those powerful people who sold out their country for Saudi money, and will it expose the scope of their treachery against America and the American people? I pray it will, if for no other reason than to ensure that future generations of those families are so despised that they will never attain positions of power and influence.
Posted by: Susanp at November 25, 2007 10:38 PM
The men who also raped the guy in the story surely are passing on disease to both.
Another reason to stop muslim immigration.
Saudi is famous for men on men sex. Immigration is bringing it and HIV to the UK and France.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7109139.stm
at November 25, 2007 11:07 PM
Muslims Against Sharia condemn Saudi Arabia and its institutionalized barbarism. We call on every woman in the West to contact their governments to pressure Saudi Arabia to abandon its barbaric practices.
Posted by: Muslims Against Sharia at November 25, 2007 11:27 PM
Dear Muslims Against Sharia:
How about a more concerted effort like a petition online that can be signed for starters?
I for one would also be happy to donate to a fund for her defense and medical treatment which I have a feeling she will desperately need.
Already emailed the Saudi Embassy and other offices.
Thank you.
Posted by: shadow at November 25, 2007 11:33 PM
Most likely she was given the choice of 200 lashes and possibly live or 200+ stones to her head buried up to her neck until she died a horrible death-mutilated and unrecognizable. Behold the so-called superior justice and compassion of Islam.
Posted by: Abby at November 26, 2007 12:53 AM
"The Saudi Justice Ministry announced that a girl gang raped by seven men and then sentenced to six months prison and 200 lashes for adultery had confessed to cheating on her husband, in its latest response to the negative international reaction to the incident." --from the article.
The sahih Hadith state that a Muslim guilty of adultery (i.e., a married person who has consensual sex outside of marriage) must be put to death by stoning. The flogging or lashes are to be used in the case of a Muslim freeman or freewoman guilty of fornication (i.e., an unmarried person who has consensual sex). According to the Hadith, the one who engages in a homosexual act and the one who has it done to them must be put to death by stoning. The hadith state that there should be no penalty to the victim of rape (she is "forgiven"). However, rape is very hard to "prove" in Islamic law.
---------------------------------------
OT
Posted by: Khaybar Oasis at November 26, 2007 1:40 AM
Right, I am sure 4 of those Muslim rapists would tell the truth that they raped the girl and that guy. As usual, the Muslim woman is punished severely while the Muslim men get away with little punishment that hardly fits their crime...since her word has half the value as theirs.
Posted by: Abby at November 26, 2007 3:04 AM
MY! The scum. They lower themselves to levels you'd never expect sewer rats to reach. Many a time I've turned to Dhimmiwatch.com only to turn away in shock / disgust at the drepravities of a friggin' socity that follows the jibberish wonderings of a schizoid mass murdering peado f*ck to flourish.
And yet they somehow manage to outdo themsselves.
Here's a clue.
The evil is not in what they do but in the absolute certainty and innocence of their actions. Way worse than scum. Way worse. A pox on them all.
The Saudi Of Arabia? Pieces of shit. Vermin.
Posted by: ewha1 at November 26, 2007 4:34 AM
And this is the "law" they want to impose on the west. If ever there was a case for "islamophobia" this is it.
Posted by: DaveMate at November 26, 2007 5:13 AM
Dave, they're infiltrating the West with their disgusting mores. It's "The invasion of the body snatchers" but without the ropey acting and braziers that defy gravity.
Whenever I read such disgusting garbage I want to find some "Saudi" and give him a good ole fashioned Glaswegian kiss.
America's a different case, and I don't thing that most Europeans really understand the undercurrents that underpin US society together -I know I don't- but Europe is going to rid this cancer with Nationalism. Pure, unashamed Nationalism. Red in claw and unbowed to boot.
And it is not going to be pretty.
F*ck 'em.
Posted by: ewha1 at November 26, 2007 6:14 AM
Islam is based on the lie that evil is good.
Posted by: FreeSpeech at November 26, 2007 7:28 AM
Where is Farfour Fibrahim to condemn these kind of 7th century "justice" departments?
It gets on my nerves that people like CAIR spend large amount of money pressing charges against civilian forces who try to prevent terrorrist attacks, while keeping totally silent when things like this happen.
What's the matter, Fibrahim? Afraid to loose the pay check the saudis keep sending you?
You make me sick. Grab you 7th century religion (and the pedophile prophet) and get back to the hell hole you have created in Saudi Arabia.
at November 26, 2007 8:05 AM
...a few nights in a Muslim Prison and you would confess to anything....Allah hates Muslims, he causes their deaths, their poverty and their misery....
Posted by: exsgtbrown at November 26, 2007 8:13 AM
I want to know why this is not the lead story on EVERY news program.
Posted by: Borg at November 26, 2007 8:22 AM
Oh wait, I know why. Since they will be the majority if immigration continues, they don't want to upset their future overlords.
Posted by: Borg at November 26, 2007 8:24 AM
The first reports I read about this incident stated that the ex-boyfriend was threatening to circulate the photographs and she met up with him to get them back. If this is the case the ex-boyfriend sounds like a nasty piece of work and would be no doubt responsible for her 'tossing away her clothes' in the car after a little bit of blackmail on his part.
Posted by: Silvester at November 26, 2007 8:50 AM
Such pious men in the Saudi court, I am sure none of them ever committed "adultery". I am sure they have other words to describe their disgusting sexual practices that allow them to justify what they do as consistent with their twisted religion. And they wonder why we don't "understand" their "religion".
Posted by: HereticInfidel at November 26, 2007 11:10 AM
Ohhhh, she committed adultery.(smacking forehead) That makes perfect sense. Lash away.
Posted by: Kevin at November 26, 2007 3:22 PM
Marisol said
Note to the Saudis: Please keep trying to defend an indefensible verdict to a global audience.
Hugh said
Now about the rape of the man by the same people who raped the girl
The earlier article did not mention the rape of the man. From this version of the article: "The seven men convicted of raping the woman were given prison sentences of two to nine years." If this account is accurate, they were only punished for raping the woman.
Anyways, Marisol and Hugh have said everything I wanted to say, better than I could have said it. This has been an excellent teaching moment for the infidels.
Posted by: special_guest at November 26, 2007 3:41 PM
I wonder what they did to this poor woman to get her to "confess" to adultery? I wonder why it was so important for Saudi officials to make something up and pin it on her? Was it getting a little too close for comfort, not really focusing attention on her rape, which Muslims couldn't care less about, but rather, shining the light on the rape of the man, which of course, never happens in Muslim countries.
Is it just me or does anyone else notice that the when one hears the word "gang rape" one almost always pictures Muslim men? Where else in the world is gang rape so prevalent? Where else, anywhere in the world (anyone?) is rape and gang rape practiced almost as a sacrament? And what entity benefits from the receiving of such a sacrament?
Posted by: Isabellathecrusader at November 26, 2007 3:48 PM
And where in the world is the so called "moderate" arab denounciation of this action. No comment from them tells me they can only be in support of this behavior by the radical Saudi government
Posted by: roymiii at November 26, 2007 4:27 PM
Isabellathecrusader said
I wonder why it was so important for Saudi officials to make something up and pin it on her?
I still have the feeling that the rapists were muttaween, the Saudi religious police, though none of the news reports say anything about that. Why would the men just hop into someone else's car and force them to drive somewhere where 5 other men were waiting? Did the men feel that they had some authority? Did they feel they had some moral/religious justification for what they were doing? Why wouldn't the two rape victims jump out of the car when two strangers hopped in?
If this story happened in NYC, I'd assume it was some gang members, high on drugs, who did it. If it happened in Saudi Arabia, I'd assume it was the religious police, high on religion, who did it.
Posted by: special_guest at November 26, 2007 4:28 PM
Is it just me or does anyone else notice that when one hears the word "gang rape" one almost always pictures Muslim men?
No, it is not just you Isabellathecrusader.
Practically, the entire population of Scandinavia, where the number of Moslems is approaching 10% , associates “rape” with Muslim “men”.
Whereas “gang rape” is associated with Muslim beasts.
at November 26, 2007 4:33 PM
Ugh! Just the thought of arrogant, angry penises running a country makes me want to hurl. Don't these people have any decency? Didn't they ever have a mother they loved? They remind me of those little dogs that jump on your leg and go at it in polite company, that you have to kick across a room; mindless, horny and relentless.
Is this the best Islam has to offer? I'll take a thousand stones to go, thank you, if that is all there is to it. That these misogynistic bastards can advocate this kind of thing with a straight face is just beyond ludicrous.
Posted by: Isabellathecrusader at November 26, 2007 7:36 PM
If she was an adulteress, what do they call the man who was with her, or the men that raped both of them?
Posted by: HereticInfidel at November 28, 2007 7:36 AM
According to recent news reports, everyone directly involved are Shiites.
At this point, she is not married. She and her husband to be have signed a marriage contract (sort of like a formal engagement with marriage license), but have not done the formal wedding ceremony.
And the breakdown of the punishment? The original punishment was for being caught out in public in compromising circumstances. The balance of the two hundred lashes and six months in jail was for embarrassing the judges by going public and appealing the the original rather lenient sentence.
And she has been threatened with a harsher sentence if she appeals again and loses.
What a novel way of reducing court backlogs. We should adopt that principle.
Posted by: jay at November 29, 2007 12:50 AM
I have never heard a single muslim denounce the rapists as criminals, even though some of them were convicted and sent to prison. An infidel like myself might get the impression that the muslim world does not think the rapists did anything wrong. Is this that "diversity" thing again? Am I missing something here?
Posted by: HereticInfidel at November 29, 2007 12:48 PM
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