RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi courts doubled the punishment of a rape victim in a verdict delivered on November 14.  The Saudi court in Qatif sentenced the young woman to 200 lashes and six months in prison for violating a segregation law, which forbids unrelated men and women from associating with each other.  She was initially sentenced to 90 lashes, but the punishment was increased on appeal for what the court termed, “her attempt to aggravate and influence the judiciary through the media.”

The court also banned the woman’s lawyer, Abdul Rahman al-Lahem  a famous human rights lawyer in Saudi Arabia, from defending her.  Lahem had his license to practice law confiscated and is required to report to a disciplinary hearing later this month.  Lahem had publicly criticized the previous verdict – claiming that the woman’s sentence was too harsh and that her attackers’ sentences were too lenient.

Following an appeal, the Saudi court increased the sentences against her attackers to two to nine years in prison – for an offense that carries the possible punishment of death.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Saudi gang rape sentence “unjust” – 16 November 2007

New York Times – Ruling jolts even Saudis: 200 Lashes for Rape Victim – 16 November 2007

Reuters – Saudi court orders lashes, prison for rape victim – 16 November 2007

AFP – Saudi punishes gang rape victim with 200 lashes – 15 November 2007

AHN – 19-year old rape victim in Saudi Arabia sentenced to 200 lashes – 15 November 2007

Arab News – Qatif Court convicts rape victim – 15 November 2007

International Herald Tribune – Report: court hands jail term, doubles lashes for woman victim of gang rape – 15 November 2007