The Arab justice accuses her of having a relationship outside of marriage with the alleged aggressor, which is punishable by Islamic law
The Government of Mexico has come out in defense of the economist, political scientist and anthropologist Paola Schietekat, a woman victim of sexual abuse in Qatar and who, after denouncing the case, was sentenced to receive one hundred lashes and serve seven years in prison. “The legal consultant of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, our best lawyer, will be in charge of defending her and that all her rights as a Mexican citizen are respected. I recognized her courage and her resolution », announced the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Marcelo Ebrard, on his Twitter account.
The 27-year-old woman has a degree in International Relations and International Law and worked in Doha for the Organizing Committee of the World Cup, which will take place in Qatar next November. In a letter titled ‘A world that seems to hate women’, the Mexican denounced that on June 6, 2021 a man “from the Latin community”, whom she knew, entered her home in Doha, Qatar, during the night to sexually assault her. She tried to defend herself against her, although her struggle caused bruises on her left arm, shoulder and back.
Schietekat later went to the police accompanied by the Mexican consul in Qatar, Luis Ancona, to file a complaint providing photos of the attack. However, according to communication agencies, since neither of them was fluent in the Arabic language, the complaint was turned against her, as she was accused of having an out-of-wedlock relationship with the alleged aggressor – who stated that she was “his bride»–, which is punishable by Islamic law. For this, she was sentenced to 100 lashes and seven years in prison.
Last hearing in March
“At a certain point they demanded a virginity test from me. For some reason I had become the accused, “lamented the complainant, who returned to Mexico on July 25 with the help of the World Cup Organizing Committee. On the other hand, the Qatari criminal court acquitted the alleged aggressor, but the charges against the young woman remain in force, which prevents her from returning to the Arab nation and continuing with her “dream job”.
The woman, who stated on her social networks that she will avoid giving more details about the process, criticized the “little or rather null preparation of the Mexican embassy” in her defense, by not providing her with an Arabic translator from the beginning. A final hearing on the case will be held on March 6, where it is expected that a decision will be made that annuls the sentence and Schietekat can thus resume his work in Qatar.
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