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American Couple in Qatar Sentenced to 3 Years in Jail American Couple in Qatar Sentenced to 3 Years in Jail
(35 minutes later)
DOHA, Qatar — Matthew and Grace Huang, an American couple accused in the death of their adopted daughter by depriving her of food and water for four days, were each sentenced on Thursday to three years in prison followed by deportation in a case that has drawn close attention here and in the United States. DOHA, Qatar — Matthew and Grace Huang, an American couple accused in the death of their adopted daughter by depriving her of food and water for four days, were each sentenced on Thursday to three years in prison followed by deportation, in a case that has drawn close attention here and in the United States.
They were allowed to leave the courtroom after the verdict and may appeal, a court official said. They had already spent 11 months in detention before being released on their own recognizance in November. The sentence was read to a packed courtroom, where many verdicts were read out in a series of unrelated trials, but the exact charge on which they were convicted was not clear. They were allowed to leave the courtroom after the verdict and may appeal, a court official said. The couple had already spent 11 months in detention before being released on their own recognizance in November. The sentence was read to a packed courtroom, where many verdicts were issued in a series of unrelated trials, but the exact charge on which the two were convicted was not clear.
Throughout their trial, the Huangs denied the charges and said that they were victims of a gross miscarriage of justice. The daughter, Gloria, who was 8, had an eating disorder, acquired during an impoverished childhood in Ghana, in which she would sometimes fast, binge or steal food. Friends said that Gloria and two sons the couple had also adopted from Africa had seemed healthy and happy. Throughout their trial, the Huangs denied the charges and said that they were victims of a gross miscarriage of justice. They said that their daughter, Gloria, who was 8, had an eating disorder formed during an impoverished childhood in Ghana, which led her to sometimes fast, binge or steal food. Friends said that Gloria and two sons the couple had also adopted from Africa had seemed healthy and happy.
In a statement he read out to reporters outside the courtroom, Mr. Huang, 37, said: “We have just been wrongfully convicted and we feel as if we are being kidnapped by the Qatar judicial system. This verdict is wrong and appears to be nothing more than an effort to save face.”In a statement he read out to reporters outside the courtroom, Mr. Huang, 37, said: “We have just been wrongfully convicted and we feel as if we are being kidnapped by the Qatar judicial system. This verdict is wrong and appears to be nothing more than an effort to save face.”
“This verdict should be overturned immediately and we should be allowed to go home,” he said.“This verdict should be overturned immediately and we should be allowed to go home,” he said.
The precise cause of the child’s death remains a mystery. But the case has revealed what the Huangs and their lawyers and supporters have called deeply ingrained prejudices here about adoption and multiracial families, based on the presumption that the girl must have been abused. The precise cause of the child’s death remains a mystery. But the case has revealed what the Huangs, their lawyers and supporters have called deeply ingrained prejudices here about adoption and multiracial families, based on the presumption that the girl must have been abused.
The family was living in Doha because Mr. Huang, 37, is an engineer who had been working on Doha’s water and sewer systems. The family was living in Doha because Mr. Huang, 37, is an engineer who had been working on the city’s water and sewerage systems.
The case began in January 2013, when the Huangs were arrested after rushing their unconscious daughter to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. The couple’s two boys, now 8 and 12, were temporarily placed in an orphanage but a judge eventually gave Mrs. Huang’s mother, who lives in Washington State, custody. The case began in January 2013, when the Huangs were arrested after rushing their unconscious daughter to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The couple’s two boys, now 8 and 12, were temporarily placed in an orphanage but a judge later gave Mrs. Huang’s mother, who lives in Washington State, custody.
The couple’s trial was regarded by some as a test of the country’s commitment to judicial process. It has also been followed closely by the American Embassy because the United States considers Qatar an important ally. America’s biggest military base in the Middle East is in Qatar, and dozens of American corporations and organizations operate here.The couple’s trial was regarded by some as a test of the country’s commitment to judicial process. It has also been followed closely by the American Embassy because the United States considers Qatar an important ally. America’s biggest military base in the Middle East is in Qatar, and dozens of American corporations and organizations operate here.
Prosecutors initially based part of their case on the suggestion that the Huangs may have been child traffickers, questioning in court how people of Asian descent could possibly want African children as their own. Prosecutors initially based part of their case on the suggestion that the Huangs may have been child traffickers, questioning in court how people of Asian descent could possibly want African children.
In his statement, Mr. Huang said: “The prosecutor accused us of trafficking our legally adopted children with the intent of selling their organs. That is how ridiculous this is.”In his statement, Mr. Huang said: “The prosecutor accused us of trafficking our legally adopted children with the intent of selling their organs. That is how ridiculous this is.”
“We are calling on the United States President Obama to call the head of state in Qatar and explain to him why American families adopt high-needs children.” He continued: “We are calling on the United States President Obama to call the head of state in Qatar and explain to him why American families adopt high-needs children.”
In the courtroom, the Huangs sat with family members, friends from a Bible study group and two representatives from the American Embassy.In the courtroom, the Huangs sat with family members, friends from a Bible study group and two representatives from the American Embassy.
Eric Volz, the managing director of the David House Agency, a Los Angeles-based group that advises Americans entangled in legal problems abroad and that has been helping the Huangs, told reporters that there was “zero evidence” in the case. The couple had already bought airline tickets in the expectation of being acquitted, he said, and had planned to fly to the United States to see their sons.Eric Volz, the managing director of the David House Agency, a Los Angeles-based group that advises Americans entangled in legal problems abroad and that has been helping the Huangs, told reporters that there was “zero evidence” in the case. The couple had already bought airline tickets in the expectation of being acquitted, he said, and had planned to fly to the United States to see their sons.
Mr. Volz said the judge had declared defendants in other cases guilty or not guilty. But in the Huangs’ case, he merely read out the sentence. Mr. Volz said the judge on Thursday had declared defendants in other cases guilty or not guilty. But in the Huangs’ case, he merely read out the sentence.
“We see that as a grave violation of due process. How can he punish them without convicting them? The judge didn’t even say what he was declaring them guilty of at all,” Mr. Volz said.“We see that as a grave violation of due process. How can he punish them without convicting them? The judge didn’t even say what he was declaring them guilty of at all,” Mr. Volz said.