Mexican woman reports sexual assualt in Qatar

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Here is her story and punishments for making the report.


www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/a-mexican-woman-reported-a-sexual-assault-in-qatar-she-faces-jail-100-lashes/ar-AAUdN8v?ocid=undefined

MEXICO CITY — Paola Schietekat longs to return to the Middle East, where she loved working — until a dream job in Qatar was followed by a nightmarish ordeal that made her flee the country.



"I couldn’t believe what had happened to me," Schietekat told Noticias Telemundo, recounting the ordeal that has made international headlines.

In June, Schietekat, who's an economist, said she was assaulted in a violent incident by an acquaintance and fellow Latino who also worked in Qatar.



"I was asleep, and when I hear a noise in the kitchen, I go to check. ... He lunged at me, and we struggled a bit until he started hitting me really hard. I remember I ended up with bruises on my ribs, back, shoulder and the entire left side of my body. I was motionless for about 10 minutes," she said.



Before leaving her, she said he yelled, "And don’t even think about telling anyone that I hit you."



Schietekat went with a representative of the Mexican Consulate to report the incident to Qatari authorities, but instead, she said, it was turned into an investigation about her, with authorities at one point asking for a virginity test. "It was a very strong humiliation," she said.

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"My assailant lied, saying that we had a relationship, and, although I had the forensic evidence of the beatings and everything, they believed him and applied the crime of fornication to us in an extramarital relationship, for which we could be in jail for up to seven years," she said. "But since I am Muslim, they can also give me 100 lashes. It’s crazy."

I think the article is worth reading and gives background on her life. Unfortunately, I think she was lucky to escape Qatar and would be smart to not return in the near future. What do you think?

[Tiny]

What do you think?

From the article:

A Muslim who has lived in the region since she was 19, Schietekat said being a woman there is a constant challenge, but nothing had prepared her for what she experienced last year, including her country's initial response.

I'm guessing "her country" was Mexico and that she didn't get the support/information from her own country's embassy that she thought she would.      Or that perhaps as foreigner perhaps she believed she wasn't subject to local laws??    

I always find it weird when someone experiences something that they seemed to have believed "only happens to other people - it won't happen to me!" happens to them.

I also find it weird when someone is surprised that religious laws ARE the laws.
I also find it weird when women suddenly discover they are second or third class citizens.

It seems to me - everyday life would have made it obvious that religious laws ARE the laws and that women are second or third class citizens. So, why the surprise??

[Artemis Windsong]

I don't think she should return to that area. She lived there since age 19. How did she not learn the language?

Another worst thing is he is still out there.