British Woman Arrested In Dubai For Illegal Sex After Reporting Rape

[onehandle]

Source: Huffington Post

A British woman who claims she was raped in a Dubai hotel bathroom and went to report the incident to police has found herself and her fiance arrested for drinking alcohol and having premarital sex.

The 23-year-old had been celebrating her recent engagement to her fiance at the Dubai Marina's luxurious Address Hotel when she was followed into the bathroom by a waiter who allegedly proceeded to rape her while she was semi-conscious.

The next day, after discussing the incident with her fiance, they decided to go to the Dubai police. However, according to reports, the Dubai police were more interested in her sex life prior to the incident and her alcohol consumption. The couple were subsequently arrested. The waiter has argued that the sex was consensual but has still been charged with 'illegal sex'.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/08/british-woman-arrested-in_n_416690.html

[DavidDvorkin]

1. Barbarians.

[geckosfeet]

2. Way to go Dubai. One reason why their 'luxury vacation resort island' is empty.

[liberalmuse]

3. This century...

I hope we witness the death of these types of societies. All of them.

[snappyturtle]

4. I think Dubai is one of many places today that needs to be avoided.

Expecting to be treated as one would be in his/her home country is delusional. Can't believe this couple reported the incident to "authorities"; they should have been on the next plane out of the country. IMHO

[MH1]

6. We need something like the anti-apartheid movement for countries that treat women as men's property

sure that will piss off certain religious fanatics even more but they are already trying to blow our airplanes out of the sky, so why not at least stand for something?

[LiberalFighter]

10. The US State Dept needs to put out a warning to all travelers

that they have a higher chance of being arrested for illegal sex even if it is legal in the states.

[JerseygirlCT]

25. Wish I could recommend this.

Absolutely.

[saigon68]

24. A country lead by guys who use Camels

Not the kind smoked, but the same concept as the Kentucky Derby

[Stumbler]

5. No matter how screwed up the US is, I'm glad I'm not in Dubai...

[Canuckistanian]

7. 21st century skyscrapers, 12th century laws

Let Dubai return to the desert.

[Alcibiades]

8. Let them know that this is unacceptable

to say the least.

http://www.dubaitourism.ae/ContactUs/tabid/138/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Here's what I wrote:

To whom it may concern,

I'm writing concerning the alleged rape of a British national by a worker at the Address Hotel, and her subsequent arrest on charges of alcohol consumption and premarital sex. In this incident, your police have it exactly wrong: instead of this young woman being arrested, the alleged perpetrator ought to have been arrested. How is it possible to promote Dubai as "safe" if guests are raped and then charged by the police for alleged offenses that are not offensive to anyone, except them? If Dubai is to be a destination for western tourists, then it must be realized that most of us do drink alcohol and have premarital sex, often at the same time. That's the way we like it. It is possible to promote Dubai as a desirable tourist destination, or to choose to police the morality of the guests who are enjoying your hospitality: it is impossible to do both.

A hotel employee, someone who ought to be the first person concerned with the safety and happiness of Dubai's guests, has apparently raped one of Dubai's guests. This is inexcusable, but what is even more inexcusable is the misconduct of the police in this matter. The fact that this girl had had premarital sex before and was drunk at the time does nothing to excuse the despicable act committed by the villain under the Hotel's employ. We travel internationally while vacationing, as do our friends. It would be unthinkable to allow one of our friends to travel to Dubai without alerting them to the danger and injustice that has been alleged in this case. Though it is regrettable, until such time as this injustice is rectified, we will take every opportunity to mention this offense to everyone we know, so that they may avoid these dangers.

This will not be well received by our press: Dubai's reputation has already taken a serious hit. It is certain that such a forward-thinking and progressive ruler as His Highness would not approve of this situation. A suggestion for an appropriate remedy for the offense committed is for an official representative of His Highness's Government to apologize to the young lady for her mistreatment by the police, and to assure the traveling public that any offenses committed against their persons while visiting Dubai will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The investigation should be reopened, and the alleged rapist should be put on trial, so that he may serve as an example to others. Finally, the officers involved ought to be immediately dismissed from service, and their conduct also investigated.

We thank you for your kind care in this urgent matter,

[Imagevision]

9. What happens in Dubai stays in Dubai? - at least may now...?!!

[sasquatch]

11. I guess the corporate paradise is anything but paradise

[Historic NY]

When will the stoning happen?

[Historic NY]

12. When will the stoning happen?

[tabasco]

13. Good luck with that tourist business, Dubai !

Dumb fucks.

[rollin74]

14. disgusting

[Jamastiene]

15. Uganda, Jamaica, and now Dubai...

added to the list of places I fucking never want to visit.

[bc3000]

16. Come to Dubai, the magical getaway where you were asking for it (tm)

[DumbBassRepublicans]

17. D U B A I ...???

Dubai MUST be an acronym for

"DUMB ASS IDIOTS...!!!"

(And, I DON'T mean the tourists...!!!)

:evilgrin:

[DumbBassRepublicans]

18. Welcome To Dubai...

On behalf of Dubai’s travel and tourism industry, we would like to welcome you to our website.

Hospitality has been our tradition for centuries. Today, Dubai extends this welcome to holiday makers as well as business visitors, offering facilities of the highest international standards combined with the charm and adventure of Arabia - an exceptional blend of modern city and timeless desert.

With a perfect winter climate, top class hotels, superb facilities for a variety of sports and leisure activities and excellent shopping, Dubai has something to offer everyone. Moreover, the emirate is friendly, safe and virtually crime-free.

HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE A FOREIGN NATIONAL OF MUSLIM DECENT, DO NOT THINK YOU CAN ACT LIKE A CHRISTIAN INFIDEL, AND GET AWAY WITH IT... YOU WILL BE INCARCERATED...!!!

Other than that, again, welcome to Dubai...!!!!

:nopity:

[bc3000]

19. Should we be reacting differently because she's a muslim?

Isn't that a little like signing your kids up for Catholic school and then complaining when they get molested?

Maybe these religions need to start getting their adherents to sign legal waivers.

[Artie Bucco]

20. I hope

the poor south Asians that helped build the UAE and Dubai rise up and take their fair share from the country.

[Odin2005]

21. Sick, barbaric.

:puke:

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Douglas Carpenter]

23. Dubai has a reputation as VERY, VERY much of a sin city - a playground of hedonism

whatever the reason are for her being charged - it certainly has nothing to do with a strict enforcement of Sharia law - not in Dubai of all places - my guess is that whoever she accused is a well connected person, who has influence. Or perhaps she had the misfortune of being interviewed by the wrong cop or cops at the wrong time.

[JerseygirlCT]

26. They certainly try to sell it that way

But travelers ought to be warned by this.

[Douglas Carpenter]

27. I used to work outside of Dubai and my brother goes there on business regularly - it IS a sin city -

VERY, VERY much so. The whole city is awash with bars, night clubs, night life of all kinds and endless hedonism and sins of the flesh. It's one of the few places where you can hear an evening prayer call and the loud beat of the disco at the same time.

Again, my guess is that it is some arbitrary move by some idiotic - asshole of a cop and the accusation may possibly involve someone of influence

[JerseygirlCT]

29. Oh I don't doubt it

many years ago, when my family lived in Bahrain, it had something of a rep. as being more relaxed.

But at the same time, the culture behind all of this is still horribly regressive and harmful to women.

[marshall]

28. Evidence that one must understand the laws of the country they are in

What allegedly happened to this woman is awful, but she or her fiance should have made themselves aware of Dubai law before they exposed themselves and their private lives to the local police. They apparantly thought they were in a western country that uses modern laws, and they were most definitely not.

[Blue_Tires]

30. Dubai's shiny veneer has always been a mile wide and an inch deep

scratch the surface and you'll find faustian levels of ugliness, injustice, unchecked greed and lawlessness...

[onager]

31. Beware the same attitudes if you go to Egypt.

Where I recently lived for nearly 4 years. Though the Egyptians haven't been stupid enough to arrest any foreign tourists.

The resorts of Aswan and Luxor are especially notorious for harassment. One woman reported that as she was going to her hotel room, with her husband just a few feet away, the bellboy asked if she was interested in meeting him for "strong Egyptian sex." (You can find that story on the web.)

I'll also point out that many Egyptian men consider harassment of females to be a disgrace, and will often jump right in if they see it happening. To the point of pounding on the harasser's head.

I've seen that happen myself - an Egyptian woman, walking down the street in Alexandria minding her own business, modestly clad in her hijab and ankle-length gellibyah.

And some idiot grabbed her ass. (I'm guessing her "offense" was walking around alone, unescorted by a male relative.) Anyway, a passing Egyptian man saw that happen and started a fist-fight with the harasser. Which I thoroughly enjoyed watching, from a safe distance.

[fleabert]

32. i live in dubai...

I am not surprised by this. I have a feeling they will all be deported after a lengthy and public trial, that will include all manner of 'evidence' which westerners like myself find unrelated to the crime.

It's just sad. sad it's happening, and sad I am not surprised.

edited to add:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=648062
interesting thread about this...