Qatar court convicts, deports Dutch woman who was raped

by WorldTribune Staff, June 14, 2016

A Dutch woman who told Qatari police she was raped has been convicted and deported for having sex outside marriage.

The 22-year-old received a suspended sentence and was fined $824. Court officials said the woman would be deported once the fine was paid.

Sexual acts by non-married people are punishable under Qatar's penal code. /AFP
Sexual acts by non-married people are punishable under Qatar’s penal code. /AFP

According to a BBC report, the woman’s lawyer said her drink had been spiked at a Doha hotel in March and she had woken up in a stranger’s apartment, where she realized she had been raped.

Her alleged attacker, who said the sex was consensual, was sentenced to 100 lashes for having sex outside marriage. He will be given a further 40 lashes for consuming alcohol.

Doha-based lawyer Najeeb al-Nuaimi, Qatar’s former justice minister, told the Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera the woman’s lawyers would have had to prove there had been “no voluntary actions” between her and the man for him to be charged with rape.

Nuaimi said that “even if they had been seen walking together, the authorities might have doubts any sexual activity was non-consensual and instead prosecute both for having sex outside marriage,” which is known as “zina” under Islamic law.

Article 281 of Qatar’s penal code states: “Whoever copulates with a female over 16 without compulsion, duress or ruse shall be punished with imprisonment for a term up to seven years. The same penalty shall also be imposed on the female for her consent.”

You must be logged in to post a comment Login