Showing posts with label Saudi gang-rape. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saudi gang-rape. Show all posts

Friday, November 16, 2007

Saudi Lawyer Says Increased Punishment for Saudi Gang-Rape Victim Unjust

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Photo courtesy of the BBC

BBC: A lawyer for a gang-rape victim in Saudi Arabia who was sentenced to 200 lashes and six-months in jail says the punishment contravenes Islamic law.

The woman was initially punished for violating laws on segregation of the sexes - she was in an unrelated man's car at the time of the attack.

When she appealed, judges doubled her sentence, saying she had been trying to use the media to influence them.

Her lawyer has been suspended from the case and faces a disciplinary session.

Abdel Rahman al-Lahem told the BBC Arabic Service that the sentence was in violation of Islamic law:

"My client is the victim of this abhorrent crime. I believe her sentence contravenes the Islamic Sharia law and violates the pertinent international conventions," he said.

"The judicial bodies should have dealt with this girl as the victim rather than the culprit."

The lawyer also said that his client his will appeal against the decision to increase her punishment. Saudi gang rape sentence 'unjust' (more)

Mark Alexander