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Punishing Victims - Saudi Gang-Raped, Pregnant Woman Given Jail, 100 Lashes
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Saudi Arabia :
Since when is a rape victim suddenly a criminal? As if the raped woman isn’t subjected to enough humiliation, violence and degradation, in Saudi Arabia she is also often punished- twice- first by the rapist/s and then by the Saudi religious courts.
In this case (the 2nd that I know of) a 23-year-old Saudi woman who was gang-raped by a man and his 4 buddies near Jeddah, and became pregnant as a consequence of the rape, is to spend a year in jail and receive 100 lashes, after the baby is born, for adultery and trying to get an abortion at King Fahd Hospital. Even though she’s unmarried. How’s that for justice?!
Then we have the case back in 2006 of a 19-year-old girl who was forcefully kidnapped with a male companion, and gang raped by 7 men. The girl was initially sentenced to 90 lashes because she was accompanied by a male that wasn’t a relative. But when her story made headlines, the courts sentenced her to 200 lashes and 6 months in jail, for good measure. Nothing like teaching someone a lesson with a few extra lashes, for speaking out. And after all the negative press, the rapists got their sentences increased from 1 to 5 years to 2 to 9 years in jail. So the victim received a little less jail time than her rapists. And for standing up for his client’s rights, her lawyer had his license removed. How’s that for justice?!
What this effectively does is make women reluctant to report rapes, if they fear they might be sentenced to jail and beaten up. And I wonder if that’s why the 23-year-old didn’t come forth until she was pregnant, fearing she might be punished as the 19-year-old was. So much for protecting their women. It’s time to start educating Saudi men about respecting women, and rape convictions should be far less lenient. Perhaps that would be a deterrent.
How sad, that women continue to be treated like chattel and 2nd class citizens in the great Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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Now i have a question where are the western self-serving hypocrite and propagators of democracy and freedom for all? can't they bring equality and crime to justice in this nation as well.
Oh!! sorry yeah, SA has oil and has friendly relations with these so called democracies. oil washes all the crimes and human rights abuses!!! if SA hasn't got the oil this could have been averted.
Oh!! sorry yeah, SA has oil and has friendly relations with these so called democracies. oil washes all the crimes and human rights abuses!!! if SA hasn't got the oil this could have been averted.
(Global Perspectives)
this is so and don't expect anything from these self proclaimed great nations
saudi arabia handomsely pays handsomely to those who make hue and cry but once lured by oil and wealth, their entire "doctrine" of bringing democracy to the Middle East goes haywire and it is proven repeatedly to be a fraud by his absolute failure to even mention the possibility of democracy in Saudi Arabia, whose government is one of the most primitive and most repressive on Earth.
saudi arabia handomsely pays handsomely to those who make hue and cry but once lured by oil and wealth, their entire "doctrine" of bringing democracy to the Middle East goes haywire and it is proven repeatedly to be a fraud by his absolute failure to even mention the possibility of democracy in Saudi Arabia, whose government is one of the most primitive and most repressive on Earth.
(Global Perspectives)
Well why blame United states for everything that goes wrong in the islamic world? we did our level best to put the dictators and wicked regimes of the stage but what can be done with the sickening mentality? practically speaking, nothing...and as long as the psyche remains tainted nothing change. therefore there is a wise saying that amend yourself and everything will change... hopefully...
(Global Perspectives)
Kahirey
I agree with you and wish there was an alternative to oil for the ordinary arab citizens sake, but having said that - it is the people/culture of the country that make it what it is, to some degree.
It’s the peoples attitudes, understanding, education and respect for each other.
The change of any county has to start from with in it and then people power cannot be ignored.
I see the world getting smaller and people making friends from all cultures, because of the internet now they are freely speaking out, exchanging different viewpoints with greater understanding, even the most oppressive of governments cannot stop this.
My limited knowledge of Pakistan’s attitude towards their women is awful too., just from what I have seen and read on the internet.
I am very grateful to live in my Country and would love to see a change for the better in every country especially for my fellow sisters who are suffering around the Globe, but I am just one.
I agree with you and wish there was an alternative to oil for the ordinary arab citizens sake, but having said that - it is the people/culture of the country that make it what it is, to some degree.
It’s the peoples attitudes, understanding, education and respect for each other.
The change of any county has to start from with in it and then people power cannot be ignored.
I see the world getting smaller and people making friends from all cultures, because of the internet now they are freely speaking out, exchanging different viewpoints with greater understanding, even the most oppressive of governments cannot stop this.
My limited knowledge of Pakistan’s attitude towards their women is awful too., just from what I have seen and read on the internet.
I am very grateful to live in my Country and would love to see a change for the better in every country especially for my fellow sisters who are suffering around the Globe, but I am just one.
(Global Perspectives)
@Vikas,
People are always at fault for interpreting their Holy Books a certain way. There are even some imams who claim it’s okay to beat your wife or even rape her. Will have to remember which videos those were and post them here. Very sad.
(Global Perspectives)
Women situation is dismal in every religion or say in every country. Even in the (so called) most democratic countries of the world they bear the burnt of the male desire and "BLOOD LUST". so this is not a country or religion specific issue rather a global one. But yes, I agree, in Islam women are little too restricted and the only way out that i see is the education for all because illiterates tend to follow religion things in the lack of ability to imbibe right things and thus there are more chances for them to be fooled by religious bigots to pursue their goals. So women empowerment will be a distant dream, and there will surely be no improvement in the dismal scenario, until they will be educated.
(Global Perspectives)
@Lynne,
Believe it or not, there are many women (including one woman on IB) who are very happy with their lot, and don’t find the laws restrictive or oppressive. It’s a whole different mentality, which I cannot relate in any way, shape or form.
(Global Perspectives)
Incognito,every civilize person and society will condemn such incidents and atrocities against women.If any country,religion,society or community justifying such acts then even their ’GOD’ can’t save them.
(Global Perspectives)
@Vijay,
Thankfully, yes they do, but the women over there are still suffering. Hopefully things will change. There are some wives of Saudi Princes who are trying to change the whole attitude about not being able to drive in Saudi Arabia. They drive when they are abroad, but unable to their. I think modernizing, if that’s ever possible, might change the way women are viewed. Instead of looking at women as property or a piece meat to be violated at will, perhaps they will look at them as human beings.
(Global Perspectives)
The mentality and attitude of these COWARDLY men has to change.
It would take the most extreme of very BRAVE Men in their country to help change this primitive attitude and to speak up against these hypocricies and their cruel practises.
These rapists and the men who condone them have to stop seeing all their women, Mothers, wives, daughter’s and sisters as nothing more than pieces of meat to humiliate, exploit, bully, terrorise and use them viciously as nothing more tiolets for their bodily excretions, and then have these women either killed or tortured and beaten for being a vulberable women who have no voice or defence.
It would take the most extreme of very BRAVE Men in their country to help change this primitive attitude and to speak up against these hypocricies and their cruel practises.
These rapists and the men who condone them have to stop seeing all their women, Mothers, wives, daughter’s and sisters as nothing more than pieces of meat to humiliate, exploit, bully, terrorise and use them viciously as nothing more tiolets for their bodily excretions, and then have these women either killed or tortured and beaten for being a vulberable women who have no voice or defence.
(Global Perspectives)
Yes Boca I understand, these women don’t know any better, they live in a bubble, and may be lucky enough to have a good life and loving husband.
So they don’t comprehend or care about anyone else nor they are able to feel empathy for their unfortunate fellow women, if they themselves haven’t suffered beatings or the humiliation of rape and the lies.
So they don’t comprehend or care about anyone else nor they are able to feel empathy for their unfortunate fellow women, if they themselves haven’t suffered beatings or the humiliation of rape and the lies.
(Global Perspectives)
@LynneK,
Not sure what it is.. whether it’s a need to defend the society, or a happy life.. but they WILL defend it. Ignorance is bliss, they say.
(Global Perspectives)
Hi incognito!
Poor woman has to suffer and go through all this because of somebody else crime, i wonder what rape means to Saudi maybe it has a different meaning all together, as much as its happening all over the world, at least the victims are treated with some decency and given all help needed to recover from the trauma. This is so unfair and traumatizing what an uncouth world it is.
Poor woman has to suffer and go through all this because of somebody else crime, i wonder what rape means to Saudi maybe it has a different meaning all together, as much as its happening all over the world, at least the victims are treated with some decency and given all help needed to recover from the trauma. This is so unfair and traumatizing what an uncouth world it is.
(Global Perspectives)
I have written about these situations before and am still appalled that people justify their actions.
As a Muslim I have had heated debates regarding the religious implications, and I will say now as I have in the past - even if these women had committed some egregious crime like being unaccompanied by a male relative – Islam teaches compassion as well. One should take the circumstances of the crime and determine the proper punishment, and if the actions warranted punishment it should it not have been weighed against the crime already levied against her. In Islam we have a punishment for a rapist as well –death. To justify punishing the victim according to religion and yet allow the criminals to live (even if after a minimal prison sentence) to me is simply hypocrisy; at least apply the same standards to both.
As a Muslim I have had heated debates regarding the religious implications, and I will say now as I have in the past - even if these women had committed some egregious crime like being unaccompanied by a male relative – Islam teaches compassion as well. One should take the circumstances of the crime and determine the proper punishment, and if the actions warranted punishment it should it not have been weighed against the crime already levied against her. In Islam we have a punishment for a rapist as well –death. To justify punishing the victim according to religion and yet allow the criminals to live (even if after a minimal prison sentence) to me is simply hypocrisy; at least apply the same standards to both.
(Global Perspectives)
What justice? I don’t think they know the meaning of the word.
(Global Perspectives)
West/NATO/Allied forces, must stop Drone (Pilot less fighter plane) Bombing on Pakistan, It kill many innocent civilians......including Women, children and old people.
People want peace and harmony not Gift of Bombs.
People want peace and harmony not Gift of Bombs.
(Global Perspectives)
Rape is a serious crime. It is a crime against humanity. And whoever commits it, must be punished wherever they are.
Your story made me remember the videos and pictures of American soldiers in Iraq raping Iraqi women. And also the videos and pictures of American soldiers in Abu ghraib prison torturing and abusing poor prisoners I wonder if they have been given the punishment they deserve for the serious crimes they committed against those poor people and prisoners.
how sad to see those soldiers from the land of democracy and freedom continue to abuse rape and torture people and then get away with it.
Your story made me remember the videos and pictures of American soldiers in Iraq raping Iraqi women. And also the videos and pictures of American soldiers in Abu ghraib prison torturing and abusing poor prisoners I wonder if they have been given the punishment they deserve for the serious crimes they committed against those poor people and prisoners.
how sad to see those soldiers from the land of democracy and freedom continue to abuse rape and torture people and then get away with it.
(Local Perspectives)
Almaha
I agree, the truth is exposed and should be - they should be punished severly and held accountable, it is a terrible sad fact of any war through out history and an ugly side of some men’s behaviour that they become the ”pack mentality” for men to behave like mongral dogs and to use their penise’s as weapons!
I agree, the truth is exposed and should be - they should be punished severly and held accountable, it is a terrible sad fact of any war through out history and an ugly side of some men’s behaviour that they become the ”pack mentality” for men to behave like mongral dogs and to use their penise’s as weapons!
(Global Perspectives)
Almaha,
You always have to politicize things, don’t you. Sad.
yes, anyone who rapes a woman should be severely punished, wherever they are.. and yes, there have been soldiers who have been tried and convicted of rape and are serving time for those heinous deeds. I won’t comment on torture, because that’s not what this post was about. Nor was it about Abu Ghraib.
(Global Perspectives)
I was not politicizing anything. I was simply talking about human rights. Your story made me remember those videos and pictures, just that:)
The stories of those rape victims are really horrible and against human rights but it does not mean this is Islam .And you cannot generalize and say all Saudi men disrespect women. Generalizing is not smart.
The stories of those rape victims are really horrible and against human rights but it does not mean this is Islam .And you cannot generalize and say all Saudi men disrespect women. Generalizing is not smart.
(Local Perspectives)
it does not seem to me either that things are being generalized here...
Yes, in the western society rapes happen often, and it is terrible, but at least there are special communities, organizations there that can provide some assistance to the victims, both psycologically as well as legally... whereas in Saudi Arabia or middle east (as far as i’ve read and seen) a woman has no protection, nobody who she could be sure would defend her... not even her proper husband...not even the law of her proper country...this is very sad...
and then to punish a womamn for going out unaccompanied by some male relative? it’s crazy!
Yes, in the western society rapes happen often, and it is terrible, but at least there are special communities, organizations there that can provide some assistance to the victims, both psycologically as well as legally... whereas in Saudi Arabia or middle east (as far as i’ve read and seen) a woman has no protection, nobody who she could be sure would defend her... not even her proper husband...not even the law of her proper country...this is very sad...
and then to punish a womamn for going out unaccompanied by some male relative? it’s crazy!
(Global Perspectives)
Add your Comment
It’s not the religion that’s at fault but the actions of the sickening, insane MEN who carry out these atrocities, and their cruel NEED for BLOOD LUST and SACRIFICIAL HUMAN VICTIMS (mainly women the weakest and most vulnerable) and then say this is to be done in the name of their God?
They do KNOW rape a sin and a vicious crime and yet they all perpetuate rotten lies through their teeth with their God as a witness.
What filthy disgusting hypocrites!
These people and their Country will never ever have any peace or respect as long as these backward practises and filthy lies continue.
it's not fair to blame it on a particular religion or region, but the same has happened every now and then and almost everywhere in this world. you're right in saying that it is the result of the sick mentality of the men and here you miss the other point even women in many case has done nothing different. but again you're right it's the sick mentality or malicious satisfaction...so on so forth. but again religion has nothing to do with it but it is also used as the interpretation to suit their own causes.