March 17, 2005

UAE Gives Pregnant Woman 150 Lashes for Adultery

I remember reading the Scarlet Letter as a freshman in high school. Our English teacher assigned the class to wear a letter on our chests to symbolize a vice we wish we could give up. Throughout the day we were supposed to wear the thing to get us to feel compassion for Hester Prynne.....You know, those New England Puritans aren't looking so bad any more.....Gulf News (via Tigerhawk):

A maid was sentenced to 150 lashes yesterday for getting pregnant out of wedlock. A Sharia Court official said the maid's UAE national sponsor filed a case with police accusing N.S.T of committing adultery and being pregnant.

Her case was referred to the public prosecution department and she was ordered to take a pregnancy test, which came back positive.

She refused to reveal the name of the child's father, despite being interrogated by the police and the public prosecutor.

The public prosecution department referred her to the emirate's Sharia Court.

She refused to identify her lover again.

The court sentenced her to 150 lashes, to be administered in two stages. She will then be deported.

The woman is lucky, the maximum sentence for adultery under Islamic law is death by stoning.

The Gates of Vienna (via Bill's Comments) notes that the poor woman is probably a national of the Philippines.

If you want to see pictures of what this form of punishment is like click here. (WARNING: Graphic) or scroll down.

Courtesy: Faith Freedom

By Rusty Shackleford, Ph.D. at 04:21 PM | |