Dubai is once again the topic of misogyny, rape and injustice when a Norwegian woman was sentenced to prison for reporting rape to the police. Clearly, we all need a minute to absorb this fact, but before you lose your head, read on.
Marte Deborah Dalelv was on a business trip in Dubai. She was out with her colleagues on March 6th when the rape too place.
When she reported it to the police, the confiscated her passport and seized her money. She was charged four days later on three counts – extramarital sex, drinking alcohol and perjury.
Her attacker, received a 13-month sentence for extramarital sex and alcohol consumption, and she got 16-month prison sentence.
Dalelv was convicted early this week, and she is appeal against the verdict. Her hearing is scheduled for early September. She describes the sentence being ‘very harsh’, but remains positive.
“I am very nervous and tense. But I hope for the best and I take one day at a time. I just have to get through this”.
According to the Emirates Centre for Human Rights, United Arab Emirates (UAE) law states a rape conviction can only be secured after a confusion or as the result of testimony from four adult male witnesses to the crime. [Source]