This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23381448

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Dubai sentences Norwegian woman who reported rape Dubai sentences Norwegian woman who reported rape
(about 2 hours later)
A young Norwegian woman has spoken out about the 16-month prison sentence she received in Dubai after reporting a rape incident to police.A young Norwegian woman has spoken out about the 16-month prison sentence she received in Dubai after reporting a rape incident to police.
Marte Deborah Dalelv was on a business trip in Dubai when she was raped. Interior designer Marte Deborah Dalelv was on a business trip in Dubai when she says she was raped.
The 25-year-old reported the March attack to the police but found herself charged with having extra-marital sex, drinking alcohol and perjury. The 25-year-old reported the March attack to the police but found herself charged with having extramarital sex, drinking alcohol, and perjury.
She was convicted earlier this week and told Norwegian TV via Skype she hoped to appeal against the verdict. Convicted earlier this week, she says she is appealing against the verdict.
"It has been very difficult. It is still very difficult. There has been a lot of insecurity in this process," she said. The appeal hearing is scheduled for early September.
Describing the sentence as "very harsh", she told the AFP news agency: "I am very nervous and tense. But I hope for the best and I take one day at a time. I just have to get through this."
The case has angered rights groups and the authorities in Norway.The case has angered rights groups and the authorities in Norway.
Dubai's strict laws about extramarital sex have caught out foreign visitors in the past.
'Wanted''Wanted'
Ms Dalelv had reportedly been on a night out with colleagues on 6 March when the rape took place. Ms Dalelv says she had been on a night out with colleagues on 6 March when the rape took place.
She reported it to the police, who proceeded to confiscate her passport and seize her money. She was charged four days later on three counts, including having sex outside marriage.She reported it to the police, who proceeded to confiscate her passport and seize her money. She was charged four days later on three counts, including having sex outside marriage.
The Norwegian government had secured her a conditional release so she has been living under the protection of the Norwegian Seamans' centre in Dubai.The Norwegian government had secured her a conditional release so she has been living under the protection of the Norwegian Seamans' centre in Dubai.
But she told NRK News that following her sentencing on Tuesday she was now officially wanted by the Dubai authorities. But she told Norway's NRK News that following her sentencing on Tuesday she was now officially wanted by the Dubai authorities.
"I should have been imprisoned since Tuesday," she said. "But I have been told they are not searching for me.""I should have been imprisoned since Tuesday," she said. "But I have been told they are not searching for me."
The sentence has been condemned by the Norwegian authorities who said it "flies in the face of our notion of justice". The sentence has been condemned by Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide who is quoted as saying that it "flies in the face of our notion of justice" and was "highly problematic from a human rights perspective".
They are reportedly trying to contact the authorities in Dubai about the situation. The Norwegian authorities are reportedly trying to contact the authorities in Dubai about the situation.
The London-based Emirates Centre for Human Rights called on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to which Dubai belongs, to quash Ms Dalelv's conviction.The London-based Emirates Centre for Human Rights called on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to which Dubai belongs, to quash Ms Dalelv's conviction.
It said the UAE's claims that it is attempting to end discrimination against women was undermined by a legal system that "prohibits the achievement of justice for cases of sexual violence against women".It said the UAE's claims that it is attempting to end discrimination against women was undermined by a legal system that "prohibits the achievement of justice for cases of sexual violence against women".
Currently, the law stipulates that, to gain a rape conviction, there must either be a confession or for four adult male witnesses to the crime.Currently, the law stipulates that, to gain a rape conviction, there must either be a confession or for four adult male witnesses to the crime.