DUBAI - Not The 'Alladin & Magic Carpet' Place For Women ...

News / Middle East
Dutch Woman Convicted, Fined After Being Raped in Qatar
VOA News
June 13, 2016 6:43 AM
A Qatari court on Monday handed down a one-year suspended sentence for adultery to a Dutch woman that was drugged and raped in an upscale Doha night club.
The 22-year-old woman, identified only as Laura, was on vacation at the time of the March 14 incident. When she reported it to Qatari police, she was arrested and had been jailed since then. 
In addition to the one-year suspended sentence, the court fined Laura $800. As soon as she pays the fine, she will be deported from the country.
The Dutch ambassador to Qatar Yvette Burghgraef-van Eechoud, who was present in court, told reporters the embassy would help Laura leave Qatar. 
"We will do everything to get her out of the country as soon as possible to where she wants to go," Eechoud said.
The woman’s attacker, identified as Omar Abdullah al-Hasan, was convicted of having sex outside of marriage, which is illegal in Qatar. He was given a sentence of 100 lashes for adultery and another 40 lashes for drinking alcohol. While alcohol is available at high-end hotels in Qatar, it is illegal for residents of the country to drink it without their employers' permission.
Laura is expected to return to the Netherlands within the next few days.
http://www.voanews.com/content/dutch-woman-convicted-fined-after-being-raped-in-qatar/3373473.html

Murder crimes drop but sexual assault cases up

Sexual offence cases increased 22 per cent in Dubai last year, says police

By Staff Published Wednesday, February 09, 2011                                           
The number of murder cases dropped by 32 per cent while sexual harassment cases increased 22 per cent in Dubai last year, said Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Mattar Al Muhairi, Acting Director-General at Department of Criminal Evidence and Criminology - Dubai Police.
According to the Department for Forensic Medicine, Dubai Police, statistics the crime rate dropped by 12 per cent last year.
He pointed out that the number of murder cases fell from 34 in 2009 to 23 last year, while the proportion of sexual crimes increased by about 22 per cent from 391 in 2009 to 504 in 2010.
“The number of injuries cases handled by Forenic Medicine Department in Dubai marginally increased to 1,959 in 2010 from 1,896 in the previous year – up by three per cent. The number of cases handled by Forensic Medicine Department totalled 3,806 last year,” Al Muhairi said.
Al Muhairi said the total cases of deaths last year were 1,256; 1,959 reports of injuries; 504 cases of sexual crimes and 87 other cases. In 2009, there were 1,429 cases of deaths, 1,896 reports of injuries, 391 sexual offence cases and 95 other cases.
***edited ***
Al Muhairi called on the community to immediately report crimes related to sexual assault, rape cases, child abuses and others, adding that quick information can help preserve evidence against the criminals.
http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/murder-crimes-drop-but-sexual-assault-cases-up-2011-02-09-1.354036

THE ordeal of a Norwegian businesswoman raped then jailed in Dubai for sex outside marriage raises serious questions about the safety of western women travelling to this part of the world.  
Marte Deborah Dalelv, 24, was last week sentenced to 16 months in prison for extramarital sex after she reported being raped.

Woman shocked by jail term after 'rape'

In an interview, Dalelv claims Dubai police asked her: "Are you sure you called the police because you just didn't like it?''
Two million Australians through Dubai each year, but many are unaware of the unique cultural practices which could land them in hot water.
Female travelers and workers are particularly vulnerable to sexual assault. For a conviction to occur, the attacker must confess or it need to be witnessed by four adult males who confirm that a sexual assault took place.
Australian Alicia Gali was jailed for adultery for eight months in 2008 after she complained to police that her co-workers at a resort in nearby Fujairah drugged her and raped her.
In December last year, a British woman was kidnapped and gang-raped and later fined for admitting she had a drink hours before the attack she said was spiked.
Non-profit group Detained in Dubai, which helps people in legal trouble in the UAE, is concerned the number of Australians inadvertently finding themselves behind bars could skyrocket.
Radha Stirling, founder of the organisation, said many Australians aren't aware of the vastly different laws in the UAE.
The federal government's Smart Traveller website warns that victims of sexual assault can face charges: "It is possible that victims of sexual assault may be charged by UAE authorities for engaging in sex outside of marriage and be dealt with according to the criminal law. There have been cases in the UAE where sexual assault victims have been imprisoned after reporting an incident to local police or upon seeking medical assistance. Sexual assault victims should contact the Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi or Consulate-General in Dubai, or the Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra, as quickly as possible to obtain relevant information on these issues and guidance on what support services may be available. Consular officers cannot provide legal or medical advice but can provide lists of English-speaking service providers who may be able to assist you in this process."
Tourists should take care to abide by local laws and customs when they travel to Dubai.
Here's a list of what not to do in Dubai:
Drinking: Drinking or being drunk in public is not tolerated and the legal drinking age is 21. you should only drink in a hotel.
Public displays of affection: Holding hands, kissing or gets cosy with your other half could lead to arrest and imprisonment.
Sex outside marriage: Sex between those who are not married is illegal and can lead to severe criminal sanctions.
Homosexuality: Homosexual acts are illegal and subject to severe punishment.
Swearing: Swearing and making rude gestures, such as the middle finger, are criminal acts in the UAE.
Swimwear: Wearing bathers outside the beach is against Dubai's decent laws and swimsuits in general should be modest. Nudity at beaches is illegal.
Smoking: Lighting up in a shopping mall, government building or shop can result in a fine.
Clothing: Woman's clothing may be considered indecent if it is tight, transparent, above the knee or shows her stomach, shoulders or back. Men should wear T-shirts at all times and short shorts can attract the wrong kind of attention.
Conversation: It is illegal to "harass" women - this includes unwanted conversation and prolonged stares or eye contact.
Photos: Taking photographs of people, particularly women, without permission is illegal and can lead to arrest or fines.
Ramadan: During Ramadan, it is illegal for non-Muslims to eat, drink or smoke in public in front of Muslims between sunrise and sunset.
Medicines: Many medications available over the counter or by prescription in Australia are illegal in the Dubai.
Drugs: The UAE laws on drugs are extremely strict, and include the death penalty or life in jail
A string of British tourists have been jailed for offences such as a peck on the cheek, been caught in a compromising position on the beach and for engaging in sex outside marriage.
A 30-year-old British woman and a 28-year-old Irish man were jailed after a long legal battle for having sex in a taxi, though DNA tests proved intercourse had not taken place. In 2010 a British couple were jailed for a month for kissing in a restaurant.
A 28-year-old Indian man and a 25-year-old Filipino women were jailed for kissing in public earlier this year, though the couple admitted they were together they claimed her was trying to give her CPR as she was having an asthma attack.
http://www.news.com.au/travel/what-tourists-need-to-know-before-going-to-dubai/story-e6frfq7r-1226683120406