As it turns out, it's very dangerous to get employed by the wrong company.
Marte Deborah Dalelv, a Norwegian interior designer who worked in Qatar, went on a business trip four months ago. Her Arab boss pulled her into his hotel room and raped her.
The United Arab Emirates courts ruled her guilty of having sex outside of marriage, and proceeded to jail her with a 16-month sentence. According to the law of United Arab Emirates, to prove rape would require the witness of 4 adult men. If a woman is not considered a rape victim, she might be charged with consensual sex outside of marriage as what happened to Dalelv.
The Wissam Al Mana employee did not want to go to the Norwegian Embassy or Consulate for help. She claimed, "I won't go to the Embassy, because that would be hiding. I don't want to do that as I believe I have no need to hide."
Dalelv's 33-year-old Sudanese boss, initialed H. A., was only sentenced to a 13-month sentence, which included 1 month served for consuming alcohol and 12 months for committed sexual acts outside marriage. He was however, not punished at all for the nonconsensual sex.
While speaking with Gulf News, Dalelv had reportedly expressed that she was told by her former boss not to explain her situation as rape, and to report that she was having consensual sex instead. He had spoken with her that it would be quicker to do so, and it would not cause her trouble in court.
"At that point, I didn't want to go to court. I just wanted to go home, so I took that advice. And that's the biggest mistake I've ever made," she said, blaming the effects that the traumatic experience had on her judgment.
"I'm going to stay and fight this. I know I haven't done anything wrong."
As Norway officials found out about this event, they worked to help Dalelv be released. As of July 22, 2013, she has been pardoned from Dubai officials, though some have claimed that it might be due to traditions of clemency in the month of Ramadan, not due to a step towards human rights.
Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide had posted in Twitter in congratulations and thanks to her supporters: "Marte is released! Thanks to everyone who signed up to help."
This is not the first incident of foreigners being raped in UAE then jailed for the nonconsensual sex. Alicia Gali, an Australian woman, had also been forced into jail in 2008. She was reportedly denied witness from the hotel after she woke up naked and covered in bruises. She had four broken ribs.
Gali has sued her employer Starwood for not warning her of the dangers in "being drugged, raped, charged with adultery and jailed if she complained."
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