Woman finds out her fate after Dubai rape charge

A British woman had her passport taken from her and was forced to await trial after she reported being raped in a Dubai hotel room by two British men.

This sparked a response from advocacy group, Detained in Dubai, to warn women not to report rape while in the country, where sex outside of marriage is illegal.

“It is still not safe for victims to report these crimes to the police without the risk of suffering a double punishment,” Radha Stirling said.

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“Victims go to (the police) expecting justice, and end up being prosecuted. They not only invalidate their victimisation, they actually punish them for it.”

But the British woman, who was planning to visit Australia next, has since been released after it was found that the sexual act was considered consensual, the British Press Association said.

It was previously reported that the woman had been raped in a hotel room by two British men.

A video was used as evidence to determine whether or not the act was or was not consensual.

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“The public prosecutor’s office clarified that a thorough review of statements given by the British woman and the two suspects as well as the reports of investigating officers from Dubai Police, showed that the act happened with the consent of the three parties in question,” the public prosecutor’s office said.

When approached by The Sun, the British woman said: “I have every respect for the United Arab Emirates and its laws and have faith that justice will be done. But I can’t say anything at this stage, sorry.”

Charity Detained in Dubai stated that the overseas coverage of the case had influenced officials to drop the charge.

Have you visited Dubai or the United Arab Emirates? Are you aware of a country’s laws before visit? Let us know in the comments section below.