Writing in Arab News, Ebtihal Mubarak continues her coverage of the notorious case of ‘Qatif Girl’. Here, she reports on a statement issued by the Saudi Ministry of Justice which supports the verdicts that have shocked much of the world.
This kind of verdict simply could not take place in much of the world. It appears, from the Ministry’s statement, that the girl’s original punishment for her ‘crime’ was augmented because of something she did after the fact as well as for the actions of her attorney. Most courts would treat these actions as separate events and deal with the separately.
Reuters’ Andrew Hammond also files a story on the Ministry’s statement: Saudi defends verdict against gang-rape victim
Qatif Case Verdicts Get Ministry’s Backing
Ebtihal Mubarak, Arab NewsJEDDAH, 21 November 2007 — The Ministry of Justice made its first public statement regarding the second verdict in the so-called “Qatif Girl†rape trial, justifying the decision to punish the victims with lashes and jail time on the basis of “some proved charges.â€
The statement, which was released through the official Saudi Press Agency, said the ministry “welcomes objective criticism that benefits the general good, away from emotional responses.â€
Last week “Qatif Girlâ€, whose name has not been released to protect her identity, and a male companion saw their sentences increased from 90 lashes to 200 lashes and six months in jail on orders by the Higher Court of Justice.
The two were found guilty of being in a state of khalwa, when an unrelated man and woman are found together, prior to their abduction and rape. The sentences of the seven men found guilty of abducting and repeatedly raping the young woman and her male companion were also increased to between two and nine years each.
The decision to increase the punishments came after the woman’s lawyer, Abdul Rahman Al-Lahem, requested that the courts review the sentences issued to the rapists.
…The ministry said in its statement yesterday that the court didn’t have sufficient evidence to pursue a “hiraba†verdict. The ministry argued that the death penalty verdict (“hirabaâ€) could not be issued without “two witnesses or a confession from the accusers that is not retracted.†(The men had initially confessed to the crime, but later retracted their confessions.)
The ministry also said yesterday in its statement that anyone has a right to appeal verdicts, but also warned of “stirring up agitation through the media that may not be objective and cannot grant anyone any right as much as it can negatively affect the other parties involved in the case.â€
The ministry statement used the term “the woman and her male friend†and “the woman and her companion†without referring to either of them as rape victims.
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November:21:2007 - 03:55
Here is a new article from CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/11/20/saudi.rape.victim/index.html
Looks like the international media coverage and the statement from the US state department is producing pressure on the Saudi government. I found the statement by the US ambassador very interesting.
“This case is working its way through the legal process. I have no doubt that justice will prevail.”.. Adel al-Jubeir said (Saudi US Ambassador)
This could be code for the Saudi Government giving in under pressure and the sentence will be reduced or the charges dropped all together. This will happen as soon as they can figure out a way to make it look like the system worked to provide such justice. That can be accomplished in the next round of appeal and the judges will be given a direct order to do the above. I know this may sound like extrapolation, but my experience tells me the ambassador will not go on the record with such statement unless 1) the definition of justice he is referring to will fit the definition of his audience (the American press in this case) and 2) something is already in the works to resolve this scandal.
November:21:2007 - 03:55
I, too, suspect that this will be sorted out humanely. I’m not quite so sure that things are already in train, though. I suspect it’s more that the realization that something needs to be done has set in. Just how it will be finessed, with a prickly Saudi judiciary, is going to take some work.
November:21:2007 - 03:55
Another piece from CNN about Hillary Clinton speaking publicly about the incident. I am sure some of it is to score political points, but putting the Saudi justice system under International scrutiny is welcome.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/11/21/saudi.rape.victim/index.html
The article also has a video piece that includes a phone interview with the Victims husband. I am sure this will make the TV news broadcast today. The reporter also mentioned that the CNN team is awaiting Visas to Saudi, which could mean that we will see more coverage of this case in the days to come.