Rape in Saudi Arabia
Rape in Saudi Arabia has been researched by various observers and entities. In 2002, sexual offences stood at 0.3 rapes per 100,000 population.[1][2] Under Sharia law, a law generally enforced by the Islamic states (Islamic Law), punishment imposed by the court on the rapist may range from flogging to execution.
Reports
Human Rights Watch has investigated the situation, and their report concludes that the rape victim is punished when they speak out against the crime. In one case, the victim's sentence was doubled for speaking out; the court also harassed the victim's lawyer, going so far as to confiscate his professional license.[3]
In 2009, the Saudi Gazette reported that a 23-year-old, unmarried woman was sentenced to one year in prison and 100 lashes for adultery. This woman had been gang-raped, became pregnant, and had tried (unsuccessfully) to abort the fetus. The flogging was postponed until after the delivery.[4]
The sentences for rape cases are also extremely unbalanced in Saudi Arabia. In one example from February 2013, a Saudi preacher raped, tortured and murdered his 5-year-old daughter. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, 800 lashes, and a fine of one million riyals ($270,000 USD) to be paid to the girl's mother, his ex-wife.[5] Contrasted with this is the case of two Pakistani citizens who were beheaded by the state after being convicted of a rape.[6]
Absence of evidence
It has been pointed that the loose trial rules, as well as the physical evidences, are not presented or declined due to lack of witnesses. Furthermore, Sharia law allows defendants to reject signed confessions.[7]
Lawyer Abdul-Aziz al-Gassem told that Sharia law allows the defendants to deny any signed confession, he further adds that "The lack of transparency in the investigation, the trial and the sentencing, plus the difficulties that journalists have to get access lead to deep a darkness where everything is possible."[8]
See also
- Campaign Against Lebanese Rape Law - Article 522
- Qatif rape case - Gang rape case, around 2006
- Women's rights in Saudi Arabia
References
- ^ James Sheptycki; Ali Wardak; James Hardie-Bick (2005). Transnational and Comparative Criminology. Routledge Cavendish. p. 95. ISBN 1-904385-05-2.
- ^ S. Malby, S. Harrendorf,M. Heiskanen (2010). United Nations Office on Drugs And Crime(UNODC) (PDF). HEUNI Publication. p. 39. ISBN 978-952-5333-78-7.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Saudi Arabia: Rape Victim Punished for Speaking Out". HRW. 2007.
- ^ Shabrawi, Adnan. "Girl gets a year in jail, 100 lashes for adultery". The Saudi Gazette. Archived from the original on 13 January 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Fayhan al-Ghamdi, Saudi Preacher, Sentenced To 8 Years, 800 Lashes For Raping, Killing Daughter". Huffington Post. 2013.
- ^ "Two Pakistanis beheaded in Saudi for rape". The Independent. 2010.
- ^ http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15836746/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/t/rape-case-calls-saudi-legal-system-question/
- ^ "Rape case calls Saudi legal system into question". Today. 2013.
Further reading
- Pleming, Sue (2007-11-19). "U.S. offers mild criticism in Saudi rape case". Reuters. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
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