Amnesty International
Picture this:
You're found alone in a room with a man who was not a family relative, and are then raped by the 7 men who found you there. For your "indiscretion", you receive 200 lashes and a 6 month prison term as punishment.
"A 19-year-old Saudi Arabian woman, known only as 'The Girl from al-Qatif', has been sentenced to flogging and a prison sentence after having been gang raped. Please send or fax an urgent letter to the King of Saudi Arabia.
The woman, from the city of al-Qatif in eastern Saudi Arabia, was convicted of being alone in private with a man who was not a member of her immediate family (an offence known as Khilwa under Shariah law), after reportedly meeting with a male companion in 2006. The man, whose name is not known, was convicted on the same charge. Their original sentence of 90 lashes was increased on 15 November 2007 to 200 lashes and a six month prison term.
The woman and her male companion were kidnapped at knifepoint by a gang of seven men shortly after they met in 2006. The male companion was attacked by the gang, but was then released. However, the woman was raped by the gang.
Four members of the gang were sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to five years in 2006. They were also sentenced to floggings of between 80 and 1000 lashes. Three other gang members reportedly handed themselves in before the conclusion of the trial. All seven recently also had their prison terms increased to between two and nine years.
Amnesty International believes that the use of corporal punishment constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment."
Read the rest and see how to help.
You're found alone in a room with a man who was not a family relative, and are then raped by the 7 men who found you there. For your "indiscretion", you receive 200 lashes and a 6 month prison term as punishment.
"A 19-year-old Saudi Arabian woman, known only as 'The Girl from al-Qatif', has been sentenced to flogging and a prison sentence after having been gang raped. Please send or fax an urgent letter to the King of Saudi Arabia.
The woman, from the city of al-Qatif in eastern Saudi Arabia, was convicted of being alone in private with a man who was not a member of her immediate family (an offence known as Khilwa under Shariah law), after reportedly meeting with a male companion in 2006. The man, whose name is not known, was convicted on the same charge. Their original sentence of 90 lashes was increased on 15 November 2007 to 200 lashes and a six month prison term.
The woman and her male companion were kidnapped at knifepoint by a gang of seven men shortly after they met in 2006. The male companion was attacked by the gang, but was then released. However, the woman was raped by the gang.
Four members of the gang were sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to five years in 2006. They were also sentenced to floggings of between 80 and 1000 lashes. Three other gang members reportedly handed themselves in before the conclusion of the trial. All seven recently also had their prison terms increased to between two and nine years.
Amnesty International believes that the use of corporal punishment constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment."
Read the rest and see how to help.