British woman who reported rape in Dubai charged with having extra-marital sex

A British woman who told police in Dubai she had been raped has reportedly been charged with having extra-marital sex. The woman in her 20s was allegedly attacked by two men from Birmingham while on holiday in the United Arab Emirates. When she reported the incident, police arrested her and confiscated her passport, according to UAE law experts Detained in Dubai. The woman has since been bailed but could face jail if found guilty at trial.

It is still not safe for victims to report these crimes to the police without the risk of suffering a double punishment.

Radha Stirling, Detained in Dubai group

Radha Stirling, from the Detained in Dubai group, said the emirate’s treatment of rape victims was “tremendously disturbing”. She said: “The UAE has a long history of penalising rape victims. Police regularly fail to differentiate between consensual intercourse and violent rape. Victims go to them expecting justice, and end up being prosecuted.”

Middle East