A British woman holidaying in Dubai has been charged with “extramarital sex” after she went to police to report being gang-raped.
The 25-year-old tourist claims that she was attacked by two British men in a hotel last month but authorities have instead chosen to charge her with having sex outside of marriage, according to the UK’s Telegraph.
Under Emirati law it is illegal for people to have sex outside of wedlock or for a single person to have sex with a married person.
Extra-marital sex is a capital offence and if found guilty the woman could face jail or deportation.
A family friend told The Sun: “They have taken her passport as lawyers thrash it out. She is staying with an English family but she is absolutely terrified. She went to the police as the victim as one of the worst ordeals imaginable, but she is being treated as the criminal.”
Britain’s Foreign Office says it is working to support the woman and her family.
Laws about alcohol and dress codes are more liberal in Dubai than neighbouring “dry” states such as Saudi Arabia. However, all displays of public affection between men and women are banned and touching members of the opposite sex in public is severely frowned upon.
In 2008, two Britons accused of having sex on Jumeirah Beach in Dubai were jailed for three months. The sentence was later suspended.
