Norwegian Woman and Rapist Get Sentences in Dubai
The city of Dubai is one of the world's most beautiful and modern looking city built out of desert. It is a place that foreigners actually outnumber those natives. Dubai would not even exist if it not were for the foreign workers and corporate investment. So, it would seem, that a more western legal system might prevail, however, that is not the case.
The legal system in the UAE is governed by Islamic law, which to most in the West and Europe, means anti-woman in many customs. Any woman going there to work or live ought to be careful. So, when Marte Dalelv, a 24-year old Norwegian interior designer, went there on assignment in Qatar in 2011 to work, little did she ever think trouble came in doubles.
During one office meeting in Dubai, a coworker attacked her and sexually penetrated her. The native was drunk. This was in March, 2013. After the incident, she ran for help into the hotel lobby and called for police. The hotel staff hesitated and asked, " Are you sure you want to call the police"? She responded bewilderedly, " Of course, that is what I want to. That is what we do in Norway". The staff looked at one another, and reluctantly called them.
The police arrived and did the usual investigative duties including giving her a medical exam for evidence of rape and alcohol tests. The latter are standard tests because public intoxication is a crime in Dubai. She was held in jail for four days for having sex out of wedlock.
When the case was presented to the court there, the decision given was so bizarre for a person from the West to understand. She received a 16 month jail term for having sex outside marriage, even though, she was raped against her will. The man received a 13 month sentence for out of wedlock sex and alcohol intoxication. After the police held her for two hours, the investigator as her why she called the police. Marte was dumbfounded. Then the investigator asked, " Did you not like it?". Shocked, Marte then knew why the hotel staff asked her about calling the police. Rape is okay in Dubai.
How did the Court ever come to the sentence for the woman? It makes no sense, whatsoever, because the man attacked her, raped her by force against her will. Why would the Dubai court sentence the victim who had no choice? What happened to the rape charge against the man? Is the Court saying no rape occurred or that what the man did was okay under Islamic law? Are they saying that foreigners should expect to attract Arab men and submit to them? The charge given to the woman is bogus, she was not married, the rapist was. Why does the man receive a lesser sentence, he is the attacker?
The simple answer is Islamic law. No woman has many rights under it.
