Saudi king pardons rape victim who was sentenced to 200 lashes

SAUDI ARABIA’S King Abdullah has pardoned a female rape victim who had been sentenced to six months in prison and 200 lashes.

Saudi justice minister Abdullah bin Muhammed al-Sheik said the pardon does not mean the king doubted the country’s judges, but instead acted in the “interests of the people”.

“The king always looks into alleviating the suffering of the citizens when he becomes sure that these verdicts will leave psychological effects on the convicted people, though he is convinced and sure that the verdicts were fair.”

The victim, known only as the “Girl of Qatif” after her hometown in eastern Saudi Arabia, was in a car with a man last year when they were attacked and raped by seven men.

In November 2006 she was sentenced to several months in prison and 90 lashes for being alone in a car with a man to whom she was neither related nor married.

The woman, who was 19 at the time of the rape, said she met the man to retrieve a picture of herself from him because she had recently married.

The case sparked international outcry, especially after the court increased the sentence last month to 200 lashes and six months prison in response to her appeal.

The Saudi justice ministry defended the sentence, saying the young woman was having an illicit affair with the man.

Mr al-Sheik said: “The king’s order consolidates and confirms what is known about the Islamic courts. Efficient judges look into different cases and issue their just verdicts and those convicted have the right to appeal.”

The men who were convicted of raping the girl and the man were jailed for terms ranging from 10 months to five years.

Sentences were increased to between two and nine years after the appeal.