90 - Sorry, 200 - lashes for being raped

A story from our allies, Saudi Arabia, whose Royal Family were recently honoured (in idiosyncratic style) by our Royal Family:

"According to the Arab News newspaper, the 19-year-old woman, who is from Saudi Arabia's Shia minority, was gang-raped 14 times in an attack in the eastern province a year-and-a-half ago."

A terrible story, but one that is not unique to the Middle East. Gang-rape can, and does, happen everywhere. And it looks like the rapists were brought to justice:

"Seven men from the majority Sunni community were found guilty of the rape and sentenced to prison terms ranging from just under a year to five years."

A year to five years strikes me as a little light for the crime of gang rape, not least because the crime can carry the death penalty in that country. But, hey ho, I’m sure the judges know best.
Ah, wait, not they don’t:

"But the victim was also punished for violating Saudi Arabia's laws on segregation that forbid unrelated men and women from associating with each other. She was initially sentenced to 90 lashes for being in the car of a strange man."

The victim was sentenced to 90 lashes. That’s the victim. And her crime? Being in the car of a strange man. Jesus, it is just as well that this particular law isn’t applicable in the UK. Otherwise there would be mass floggings every Sunday morning.

"On appeal, the Arab News reported that the punishment was not reduced but increased to 200 lashes and a six-month prison sentence."

Well, I’ll bet that the rape victim is really happy with the outcome of that appeal then.

I know that you should obey the law of your country, and I know that if you don’t, you should accept the punishment if you are caught. But it is a bit difficult to escape from the pungent air of misogyny that surrounds a law that sees a rape victim sentenced to 90 lashes. And then, on appeal, having those lashes more than doubled. With a six month prison sentence stuck on top.

And these people are our allies.

You could argue that, given my decadent Western ways, I can’t understand where this ruling is coming from. And you know what, you’d be right. Because I find the idea of lashing and jailing a person who was raped 14 times utterly abhorrent.

Still, it could have been worse. The victim could have been raped in Iran, where the penalty is far harsher.