DAILY MAIL: International outrage grew today as Saudi Arabia defended the sentencing of a teenage gang-rape victim to six months' jail and 200 lashes.
The Shia Muslim woman had initially been sentenced to 90 lashes after being convicted of violating Saudi Arabia's rigid Sharia Islamic law on segregation of the sexes.
The Saudi general court also doubled prison sentences for the seven men convicted of raping the 19-year-old.
US Democratic party presidential contender Hillary Clinton was outraged at the Saudi court decision.
"I urge President Bush to call on King Abdullah to cancel the ruling and drop all charges against this woman," she said.
"As president I will once again make human rights an American priority around the world."
US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack declined to directly criticise the Saudi judiciary, but said: "I think that most people would find this relatively astonishing that something like this happened." Outrage as Saudi rape VICTIM is given 200 lashes and six months jail (more)
Mark Alexander
