Woman spends 8 months in jail in the UAE even if she was raped

[Deleted]

I think this is one of the major faults of the arab world, in many countries women are considered less then men, this is a major problem and I have to admit, I don't understand why? I mean, why do many of the states in the area consider that women don't deserve same rights as men?
From this point of view I feel that some of these nations are way behind the rest of the world. Even UAE, always promoted as a great country, rich, friendly tourist destination... but in reality it's not that true for women, is it?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...m_hp_ref=world

"An Australian woman who spent eight months in prison in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on charges of having sex outside of marriage after she was gang-raped told her harrowing story to Yahoo 7 News.

Alicia Gali told reporter Ross Coulthart she was working for an American hospitality company, Starwood Hotels, at the Meridien Al Aqah beach resort in the UAE when her room was flooded due to a backed-up drain. Gali was living at the hotel where she worked.

Gali told Yahoo 7 News she went to the hotel bar to use her laptop and have a drink since there was nowhere else to go. She said a fellow employee at the hotel refilled her glass with ice from an ice bucket, using a pair of tongs, but the next thing she remembers is waking up at 4:30 p.m. the next day, with four broken ribs and bruises all over her body.


Maintenance employees later found a man's shirt and a plastic bag had been used to stop the drain, perhaps in a ploy to force Gali to the hotel bar, Yahoo 7 News reports.

After reporting the rape to police, Gali was told to sign a statement in Arabic, which she later learned was a confession that she had drank alcohol and had sex outside marriage, she told Yahoo 7 News. Gali was sentenced to a year in prison, but was pardoned in 2009 after serving eight months, The Australian reported.

Years later, Gali's 2008 rape continues to affect her life. Last year, the Courier Mail reported that she was "diagnosed with severe post traumatic stress disorder, is unable to work and has had to borrow money from friends and family to pay hospital and counseling."

Gali's case is not the first of a woman being charged with crimes after reporting rape to UAE authorities. The country has notoriously harsh laws that allow for prison sentences for crimes including drinking alcohol and gay sex in addition to having sex outside marriage.

A statement given by Starwood Hotels to Yahoo 7 News said the hotel "worked diligently on Ms. Gali's behalf" and that the men involved in the crime were prosecuted and served prison terms."

[Deleted]

After reporting the rape to police, Gali was told to sign a statement in Arabic, which she later learned was a confession that she had drank alcohol and had sex outside marriage, she told Yahoo 7 News. Gali was sentenced to a year in prison, but was pardoned in 2009 after serving eight months, The Australian reported.

Whilst what happened to her is inexcusable, She broke the golden rule when dealing with any documentation in a foreign country, which is to make sure you can understand it, if you cannot understand it due to it being in a foreign language, or worded in a way your not happy with then you get a lawyer / speak to your consulate.

NEVER under any circumstance sign a blank document, or something in a language you don't understand you leave yourself open to any number of problems as she found out.

[lzsg]

Even UAE, always promoted as a great country, rich, friendly tourist destination... but in reality it's not that true for women, is it?

I don't think very many people in the western world consider the UAE a great country. Sure, it's a popular tourist destination, but it's just as bad as most other ME countries when it comes to religious persecution and women's/gay rights.

To answer your question: I guess that's what happens when you base your laws on completely arbitrary rules from the Quran. Most of the ME countries aren't formally theocracies but Islam still has a very strong grasp on the people.

[Notchris]

Great tourist destination =/= great country.

Mexico is a prime example of this.

[Maelle]

Whilst what happened to her is inexcusable, She broke the golden rule when dealing with any documentation in a foreign country, which is to make sure you can understand it, if you cannot understand it due to it being in a foreign language, or worded in a way your not happy with then you get a lawyer / speak to your consulate.

NEVER under any circumstance sign a blank document, or something in a language you don't understand you leave yourself open to any number of problems as she found out.

I think we can forgive her lack of a clear head after being drugged and gang-raped.

[Tradewind]

I don't feel like being re-banned again...but I really have nothing good to say about this...so I'll leave it at "this is bullshit and stupid."

[DEATHETERNAL]

Lesson 1: Don't go to Islamic nations for your own protection.
Lesson 2: Don't sign something you can't understand in any nation.

[s_bushido]

Nothing really surprises me about rape cases anymore...especially when it comes to parts of Africa and the Middle East.

It's situations like this that make the whole Kira and Death Note situation seem much less far-fetched to me...

[Zonas]

Wait, if there was a law against women drinking, then why did she go for a drink in the first place?

[Åmbulance]

Wait, if there was a law against women drinking, then why did she go for a drink in the first place?

Dubai is a little lax on some issues, i'm guessing women drinking at bar is one of them.

[Bigbamboozal]

I wish all the people pissing about the japanese comfort woman in ww2 situation would come here and bleed hearts on this instead. At least it's current-esk, and they could possibly make a difference.

[Foosha]

Great tourist destination =/= great country.

Mexico is a prime example of this.

Mexico is neither great country nor great tourist destination. I'd gladly pick any other central american country or south american country to spend my time in.

[Adam Jensen]

That side of the world is so fucked up.

Arresting a woman for having "sex out of marriage" is fucking stupid, even if it wasn't rape, and doubly stupid if it is rape.

[derpkitteh]

it's things like this that have shaped my view on that area of the world and the beliefs from it.

[Bakis]

Almost all the gulf states are medieval at best in my view when it comes to legislation.

[Uennie]

I read stories like this every day and it never stops sucking hardcore.

[Mormolyce]

Yes, terrible story. Her lawyers adviser her to keep quiet about it during the court case so as not to stir up international outrage because they thought it might be detrimental to her case. Just horrible.

[Deleted]

Aaah, UAE. Where they can do what they want and nobody can tell em anything.

---------- Post added 2013-05-14 at 07:57 AM ----------

it's things like this that have shaped my view on that area of the world and the beliefs from it.

This isn't a good example of Islamic society, gulf states are medieval at best. Unfortunately they're a great ally so...

[Static]

As an Emirate citizen, I feel a bit offended of some of the posters above me, but alright..

I feel obliged to clear UAE's drinking policy, and should you require proof, you're more than welcome to try Google, Bing or what have you, because I will not. Sorry.

Drinking is NOT illegal in the UAE. It's legal in "licensed places". Those licensed places mostly apply to some hotel bars, clubs, restaurants, etc. However, you're not allowed to drink in public places. Doing so will result in 6-8 months in prison, and MAY get you a fine of roughly 3000 Dirhams (~800$). You can also opt in for a Drinking License (optional). The reason why it's not allowed to drink in public areas is to not cause annoyance/problems to locals and others that don't drink(Muslims, for example). This applies to both genders, not exclusive to the male only like some of you seem to claim. Lastly, the legal drinking age in UAE, is 21.


What happened to that miss was unbelievably horrible, and I feel terribly sorry for her. I'm NOT in any way, shape or form defending the government's decision with her, but she should have never signed any kind of paper that she didn't understand. This is absolutely wrong, and something needs to be done so that such things would never happen again. Nevertheless, I only truly hope that she gets over this quick and gets better.

[Bakis]

Drinking policy is up to UAE no matter and she broke the law, nothing outrages with that as far as I'm concerned.
Problem is as you say the rest of what happened to her.