Qatar arrests woman for adultery after she reports being raped

Qatar authorities have arrested a Dutch woman for adultery after she went to the police to report being drugged and raped, according to the Telegraaf .

The paper, quoting the 22-year-old's mother and lawyer, said the girl, identified as Laura, felt unwell immediately after having a drink at the West Bay Hotel in March. The next thing she remembered, she woke up in a strange apartment and realized the man, another expat, had raped her.

When she went to the police to report the crime, she was arrested for engaging in adultery.

The Dutch Embassy told Doha News it was providing assistance to Laura.

“The Dutch government and embassy are in close contact with the defendant and her family in the Netherlands. We have provided assistance to her since the first day of detention. For the sake of the defendant’s case we will not make further comments at this point.”

A campaign has been launched on social media, under the slogan #FreeLaura .

The accused rapist admitted the two had sex, but insisted it was consensual and accused Laura of being a prostitute.

While rape is a crime in Qatar, authorities rely heavily on physical evidence of violence to validate a victim's claim, leaving women who either did not or were not able to fight back unable to prove their claims.

“She could push him (or) resist the movement by moving her hands – that would show a mark or scratch, which proves that she was under a physical struggle,” former Justice Minister Najeeb al-Nuaimi told Doha News. “But if that doesn’t show, she’s lying. That’s clear for any investigator.”

Laura's family and lawyers went public and launched the social media and diplomatic campaign ahead of a Monday court appearance in Doha.

Meanwhile, it seems that the alleged rapist is attempting to force the victim to recant. Laura's mother told Dutch media that "I'm constantly put under pressure to let my daughter marry her rapist. (I get) text messages from an unkown number in Lebanon which call for consent to a marriage between Laura (and her rapist)," according to Middle East Eye .