russell jones Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 I think it may give us a good idea of the state of human rights in the world if we kept all of the stories in one place. Sound like a good idea? This story has been already posted, but new events have complicated the issue somewhat. The court has actually increased the sentence because the defendant's lawyer had notified the media, thus bringing the ire of the Western world upon the Saudi criminal justice system. I think this story is interesting for two reasons. The obvious "blaming the victim" angle is something that is actually codified in the Saudi justice system, but at the same time still exists in rape cases in the United States. It would be interesting if stories about rape cases in America could be turned up where the media coverage may have mentioned what the victim was wearing, or what she was doing in that place etc. Secondly, the increase in the sentence suggests that the Saudis want to protect themselves from Western influence as a matter of policy. This brings up all sorts of questions. Can we judge another society's actions according to our own morality? Do stories like this shine the light away from our own injustices by comparing a seemingly worse case in a far away land? Do people in the US think differently than the Saudi judges, ie. don't they also blame the victim? And finally, are women's rights the final frontier? "Saudi gang rape sentence 'unjust' 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 would appeal against the decision to increase her punishment. Segregation laws According to the Arab News newspaper, the 19-year-old woman was gang-raped 14 times in an attack in Qatif in the eastern province a year-and-a-half ago. Seven men were found guilty of the rape and sentenced to prison terms ranging from just under a year to five years. The victim and attackers are from Saudi Arabia's Shia minority. Being a Muslim, I think it's a big injustice done to the girl. If the court doubled the sentence of the girl then they should have given death penalty to the rapists Asfandyar Saudi Arabia The rapists' sentences were also doubled by the court. Correspondents say the sentences were still low considering the rapists could have faced the death penalty. The rape victim was punished for violating Saudi Arabia's laws on segregation that forbid unrelated men and women from associating with each other. She was initially sentenced to 90 lashes for being in the car of a strange man. On appeal, the Arab News reported that the punishment was not reduced but increased to 200 lashes and a six-month prison sentence. 'Personal views' Mr Lahem accused the court of letting personal views influence its decision. "It seems that the sentence was influenced by the fact that the woman escalated the issue with her lawyer and also with the supreme judicial authorities," he said. "This is astonishing because justice is supposed to be independent from all pressures as well as personal considerations, be it a feeling towards the lawyer or defendant herself," he added. The Arab News quoted an official as saying the judges had decided to punish the girl for trying to aggravate and influence the judiciary through the media. Mr Lahem said that the judges' decision to confiscate his licence to work and stop him from representing his client is illegal." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WORDISM45 Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/11/23/1195753271418.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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