Despite Dubai’s popularity as a tourist destination, the United Arab Emirates have some pretty draconian and misogynist laws:
A British woman who was allegedly kidnapped and gang raped by three men in Dubai has been prosecuted for drinking without a licence, throwing a spotlight on the United Arab Emirates’ archaic legal system, which rights groups say does not do enough to protect victims of sexual assault.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claims she was raped repeatedly by the three men who filmed the attack after they lured her into their car as she returned from a night out with friends.
After reporting her ordeal to the police, the 28-year-old found herself in the dock because she admitted she had been drinking earlier that night.
One thing I’ll never understand about the UN is why they allow flagrant rights violations from their member nations. New proposal: periodic human rights audits with imposed deadlines for implementing changes to oppressive policies or GET OUT.
I don’t actually know enough about international politics to have any idea whether this would work, but doesn’t it sound nice?
Via Dave McCall.