Saudi Arabia: Ministry of Justice Blames Media for Their Handling of Rape Case

60 lashes to the rape victim for “being alone” with a man; 140 lashes for having the temerity to appeal the ruling.

Lashing Out at the Media Over the Qatif Girl Case

Abeer Mishkhas, abeermishkhas@arabnews.com

The case of what has come to be called the Qatif girl is the talk of the media in Saudi and abroad; it is full of issues that we need to examine closely. To begin with, it raises questions about the country’s legal system, the fear of the power of the media and the secrecy that courts prefer to shroud cases in. There is also the social ruling against the girl, which is another important issue that has to be thoroughly looked into…

… The media, according to the judges, were … to blame. The girl was actually sentenced to extra lashes for going to the media with her story, and her lawyer got his share of blame and actual punishment for talking to newspapers about the case. The girl was also punished for something that is not actually a crime. She was out with a male friend in front of a shopping center so it was in a public space — not a secluded private one — and there were passers-by and shoppers all around. The mere implication that she brought this on herself by being out with a stranger only rubs salt into the wound. Basically, what those judges are saying to the girl is “You deserve what happened to you!” which is a very cruel and unjust way to think.

To say that for being in a public street with a man she deserved to be raped 14 times is simply beyond belief.