Woman arrested for reporting rape

[Spot261]

This is a somewhat personally motivated thread in that I have direct links to the family of this young lady, thus I am opening the thread quite specifically to highlight her plight and hopefully aid her position.

If any staff believe this or my new signature are violating any forum policies by all means remove them but in the meantime I shall assume approval.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...ra-marital-sex-hotel-uae-police-a7420616.html

Until the past 24 hours everyone remotely involved had been following advice from the consulate to avoid giving information to the press, whose involvement might adversely affect the case, but as the uk newspapers have now apparently discovered sufficient details to print a limited version of the facts I feel justified in relaying what they have already put into print if it might in any way help her and the families cause.

 

[φ of π]

Dubai disgusts me. Why would anyone ever validate that place as a tourist destination after this kind of incident?

 

[Locutus of Bored]

That's awful. I wish her the best on a swift and successful resolution to this so she can get back home safely to her family as soon as possible without further delay or unjust prosecution from the UAE.

Does the consulate not provide their own legal assistance or pay for local attorneys who know the courts there? I get that you can't pay for the defense of every British citizen that gets into legal trouble abroad, but surely you would think they would step up in the case of an innocent victim being prosecuted under a barbaric law?

It's a double-edged sword about the publicity thing. On the one hand you don't want to make her situation more difficult for her by provoking the UAE with negative press that might make them unjustly punish her even worse, but on the other hand, that's precisely how the country intimidates victims and keeps them from using public awareness to help their cause. It's also about protecting their tourism and business revenue which could be threatened if the news that they regularly do this kind of thing against victims of rape and a host of other crimes against women, or to persecute women and LGBT people for simply loving or living with whom they choose.

While the scope of the laws and the punishments are not the same, it's sobering that we have taken a step backwards on women's and LGBT rights as well in recent times. This kind of thing is why we have to always be vigilant of any step in the wrong direction and not dismiss it as no big deal or people overreacting.

Well, again, I wish her a quick exit from the country with all charges dropped and a safe return home to her family. Please keep us updated on the case as things develop.

 

[{ Emilia }]

Judging from past experiences in recent years (I think there was a Dutch woman who suffered the same fate and... another Brit IIRC?), she will eventually be "pardoned" and released. It's so fucked up, though.

What a horrible story. My thoughts are with her.

 

[B.J.]

That has to be horrific, going to the one place she thinks is safe, and having it turned around on her. Not to mention the atrocities she already went through.

Considering that the attackers are also British, can she try to have them charged once she gets home? Or would it be too late to be very effective (i.e. her word against theirs)?

 

[Spot261]

It's a double-edged sword about the publicity thing. On the one hand you don't want to make her situation more difficult for her by provoking the UAE with negative press that might make them unjustly punish her even worse, but on the other hand, that's precisely how the country intimidates victims and keeps them from using public awareness to help their cause

This is precisely the difficulty and to be honest I've had reservations about posting in here given the scale and public nature of the forum. Prior to the last 48 hours I had in fact deliberately refrained. However as it seems the media coverage is seemingly escalating perfectly well all by itself (accompanied by a steady flow of journalists knocking on doors) there seems little harm in drawing wider attention to the ways in which people can possibly do something positive.

In that sense I don't intend to be adding anything new beyond what is in the public domain, the fire may well be building but I don't intend to pour petrol on it. I do intend to make clear exactly what the family are trying to do.

As it stands the bare minimum sum required for legal fees is in the ballpark of £24,000, of which £11,810 has currently been raised at the time of posting. Clearly this figure is open to change as events take their course. We are organising local fundraising events but the main source of funding will almost doubtless continue to be online donations.

I'm not asking anyone to feel pressured, nor am I inclined to attempt to persuade anyone to do anything. However the gofundme link is now my signature and sadly represents the best way people who wish to help can do so.

I cannot emphasise strongly enough that this is purely a personal decision, but I feel priveliged to be able to extend thanks on behalf of the family

 

[Locutus of Bored]

This is precisely the difficulty and to be honest I've had reservations about posting in here given the scale and public nature of the forum.

I understand your concerns, but I wouldn't worry too much about that. We're a big deal in Star Trek fandom, but in terms of our impact on world affairs we're a non-entity. I highly doubt the UAE will take notice of this thread.

 

[Awesome Possum]

This is just horrific.

 

[Avro Arrow]

There is so much wrong in that article that it makes me ill.

Best wishes to your friend. My thoughts are with her.

 

[Spot261]

There is so much wrong in that article that it makes me ill.

Best wishes to your friend. My thoughts are with her.

Thank you, I actually had no idea just how awfully people were still treated there.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Why can't you slam the UAE after they all come home to the UK?

Why the hell does the world keep propping them up?

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Why can't you slam the UAE after they all come home to the UK?

Because the young woman who was a victim in this case has not come home yet, as it says in the article the OP linked to. Her passport was seized and she is still stuck there awaiting trial in the UAE. Too much negative press may influence the court's decision against her. That's how they intimidate victims and their families into not generating a bigger press response which might adversely affect the UAE's tourism and business revenue.

Meanwhile, the rapists are free and clear to return to Britain without any charges filed against them by the UAE. Hopefully charges can be brought against the men in the UK once the young woman comes home, though I'm not sure what the jurisdictional issues are with that.

 

[Spot261]

One small correction counter to information presented in the media, we're led to believe that the two young men are in fact also in Dubai as we speak with their own passports confiscated. Small consolation but there you go.

On a similar note anyone following this in the news please be wary of statements reported by the newspapers. To the best of our knowledge no one has actually given any statements whatsoever directly to any reporters. Comments reported have typically been lifted from social media then presented as though given in interview, including at least one that was lifted from the initial (now superseded) fundraising page my wife set up.

Hence my wariness in giving additional information in here.

The press attention has been quite intrusive and a couple of those encounters have in fact been somewhat heated.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Meanwhile, the rapists are free and clear to return to Britain without any charges filed against them by the UAE. Hopefully charges can be brought against the men in the UK once the young woman comes home, though I'm not sure what the jurisdictional issues are with that.

The only saving grace about this grim tragedy is that under S72 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 the two British men (Nationals OR residents) can be dealt with by the UK criminal legal system as they have been alleged to commit a sexual act in a foreign country with is an offence in England/Wales (our law thankfully allows for muder/sex offences to be pursued if they happen overseas). The bigger problem is that the poor woman has to make it back to the UK first, but as she is being prosecuted as a suspect of a UAE piece of legislation (a socially bastardised piece of Sharia law designed to protect men) she will no doubt face much turmoil, grief and disbelief over the fact she turned to someone for help and is being investigated for being a victim. Given, to be acquitted she would require full confessions by the men allegedly involved, or written witness statements by four independent men, she is, frankly in an horrific position. I used to live in Dubai, during its construction heydays of the mid oughts. I quickly became disgusted by the HR practices of the companies, most of which were owned by the Crown. Immigrants flown in to work, passports "looked after" during employment the "contracts", human rights violations left right and centre for the good of the burgeoning tourism economy. Propped up by wealthy, 1%er Western Expat elites complicity turning a blind eye for their tax free wages. I did not last long! Ever since I have regularly "campaigned" at friends who vacation there seemingly either ignorant or uninvested in the day to day violations that take place against women's/workers/LGBT rights. But, hey, All Inclusive, off season for 1/2 price, right? I truly wish your friend well and hope that international pressure has some influence on gaining her quick release so she can return to life and pursue her allegations in a UK court. Apologies for the block of text but apparently my phone won't allow separate paragraphs!

 

[Garak]

This happened in a middle eastern country? No way!

 

[publiusr]

Dubai disgusts me. Why would anyone ever validate that place as a tourist destination after this kind of incident?

Art Briles maybe

Dubai doesn't just look like Blade Runner city--all the poor girls are Zhora there.
When that oil money runs out--I can see it being consumed by the sands--like Bethmoora.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

The only saving grace about this grim tragedy is that under S72 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 the two British men (Nationals OR residents) can be dealt with by the UK criminal legal system as they have been alleged to commit a sexual act in a foreign country with is an offence in England/Wales (our law thankfully allows for muder/sex offences to be pursued if they happen overseas). The bigger problem is that the poor woman has to make it back to the UK first, but as she is being prosecuted as a suspect of a UAE piece of legislation (a socially bastardised piece of Sharia law designed to protect men) she will no doubt face much turmoil, grief and disbelief over the fact she turned to someone for help and is being investigated for being a victim. Given, to be acquitted she would require full confessions by the men allegedly involved, or written witness statements by four independent men, she is, frankly in an horrific position. I used to live in Dubai, during its construction heydays of the mid oughts. I quickly became disgusted by the HR practices of the companies, most of which were owned by the Crown. Immigrants flown in to work, passports "looked after" during employment the "contracts", human rights violations left right and centre for the good of the burgeoning tourism economy. Propped up by wealthy, 1%er Western Expat elites complicity turning a blind eye for their tax free wages. I did not last long! Ever since I have regularly "campaigned" at friends who vacation there seemingly either ignorant or uninvested in the day to day violations that take place against women's/workers/LGBT rights. But, hey, All Inclusive, off season for 1/2 price, right? I truly wish your friend well and hope that international pressure has some influence on gaining her quick release so she can return to life and pursue her allegations in a UK court. Apologies for the block of text but apparently my phone won't allow separate paragraphs!

Thanks for the comprehensive information, Hugo.

 

[Hugo Rune]

The biggest issue will be primary evidence. Rape allegations in the UK (if non historic) come with a barrage of forensics, preserving evidence from the venue, the victim and the suspects. Given the two males have not been arrested the likelihood is all of that primary evidence will have been lost, vastly compromising any future prosecutions. Not that historic (which it will be by the time this poor woman gets back home) allegations can't be successfully won of course, but without early physical evidence it is that much harder.

 

[Spot261]

Thank you Hugo, there's actually some reassurance in your post.

Specifically, the two men WERE in fact arrested and (to the best of my knowledge) remain there, something which seems to consistently misreported.

Seeking a prosecution is, however, a secondary concern at the moment as compared to ensuring Zara's safety. We passed the 25 grand mark for legal fees mid this afternoon (I was actually on the forums at the time and considered putting a post on to that effect, but decided against), which is one enormous hurdle passed, although to what extent the current media circus may affect the court proceedings remains to be seen.

 

[Hugo Rune]

So I now read the case has been dropped by the UAE.

Why? Because the evidence found points to the act happening "...with the consent of the three parties in question"

Problem here is, if she was not raped, but consentually had sex with the two men, she has willingly broken their law of extra-marital sex. So, using that as a pretence to release her is, well, bullshit, as surely such clarification of evidence would allow for a more vigorous prosecution.

It also infers that her original allegation was false and she either recanted her account or significantly modified it. This, in and of itself is a significant crime (with a years sentence up for offer) under UAE criminal law and case law from 2013 shows that they have no issues convicting women of such

One can only hope that given the original allegation and the media coverage involved, the UK police pick up the pieces of this sad, sorry, mess and pursue it. But, given the nature of the alleged incident, that would lie in the hands of the lady in question. Unless the police are directed by the Home Office/Director of Public Prosecutions to open and investigate a UK crime report.

Hugo