CNN runs this story, based on an interview with the husband of ‘Qatif Girl’. He thinks it’s a personal vendetta on the part of one of the judges. There’s no evidence offered support that, but of course it’s possible.

Saudi rape victim’s husband blames judge for punishment

CNN) — The husband of a Saudi rape victim sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in prison said his wife is “a crushed human being,” but blamed a judge — not the Saudi judicial system — for treating her as a criminal.

Saudi society is respectful of women, he said, adding that he had faith his wife would get justice.

The ruling relates to an incident in March 2006 when the woman, then 18 and engaged to be married, and an unrelated man were abducted from a mall in Qatif, Saudi Arabia, by a group of seven men. She was later raped.

… The husband, who asked to remain unnamed, spoke to CNN senior Arab affairs editor Octavia Nasr.

His wife, who he said is “a quiet, simple person who does not bother anyone,” is ill and too fragile to speak about the case, he said. As her guardian under Saudi law, he is standing up for her publicly.

The attack, trial and sentencing have taken a heavy toll on his wife’s already-poor health, he said.

She suffers from anemia, a blood disorder and asthma, and will have surgery next month to remove her gallbladder, he said.

“Since the attack, she’s been suffering from severe depression.”

The events ended her pursuit of an education past high school, he said.

“Her situation keeps changing from bad to worse,” he said. “You could say she’s a crushed human being.”

“The court proceedings were like a spectacle at times,” he said. “The criminals were allowed in the same room as my wife. They were allowed to make all kinds of offensive gestures and give her dirty and threatening looks.”

Of the three judges at the trial, one of them “was mean and from the beginning dealt with my wife as guilty person who had done something wrong,” he said.

“Even when he pronounced the sentence, he said to her, ‘You were involved in a suspicious relationship, and you deserve 200 lashes for that,’ ” he said.
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