A court in Dubai has sentenced a young Norwegian woman, Marte Deborah Dalelv, to 16 months in jail after she brought charges of rape against a colleague. Dismissing her allegations, the court saw fit instead to find her guilty of drinking alcohol and wanting the sex that she alleged was forced upon her. Meanwhile she was let go by her Qatar-born employer, the interior designer Wissam al Mana, who is otherwise known as Janet Jackson’s latest husband. (See postscript below for a statement from al Mana’s company.)

more info at :

http://www.forbes.com/sites/eamonnfingleton/2013/07/21/what-a-wonderful-world-get-raped-in-dubai-and-youll-serve-16-months-in-prison/?partner=yahootix

official statement from Al Mana’s company. See below.

(July 20, 2013) – “We are sympathetic to Marte Dalelv during this very difficult situation. Al Mana Interiors has repeatedly offered Marte support and company representatives were by her side throughout the initial investigation and police interviews, and spent days at both the police station and the prosecutor’s office to help win her release.

“Company representatives have been supportive and in communication with Marte throughout her ordeal. Only when Ms. Dalelv declined to have positive and constructive discussions about her employment status, and ceased communication with her employer, was the company forced to end our relationship with her. The decision had nothing to do with the rape allegation, and unfortunately neither Ms. Dalelv nor her attorneys have chosen to contact the company to discuss her employment status.

“We continue to be open to helping Ms. Dalelv and extending her resources during the Dubai legal process. We are hopeful that we can resume a positive discussion about the assistance she needs during this difficult time.”

Is this going to delay the release of Jan's next album?

aardvark15 said:

I love that there was no connection between the two. It was just 1. She was arrested for being raped 2. She was fired. It's obvious readers are supposed to assume that Wissam is a stereotypical Arab man.

I have a (bad) feeling that this marriage is gonna be yet another disaster in the making. Don't know why. Just DO. It's been her track record thus far.

Well....some good news for the woman.

Marte Deborah Dalelv, Alleged Norwegian Rape Victim, Pardoned After Being Sentenced To Jail For Sex Outside Marriage

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — With her passport back in hand, a Norwegian woman at the center of a Dubai rape claim dispute said Monday that officials dropped her 16-month sentence for having sex outside marriage in the latest clash between the city's Islamic-based legal codes and its international branding as a Western-friendly haven.

http://www.huffingtonpost...33809.html

whitechocolatebrotha said:

OlSchool said:

Rape Victim, Pardoned

Right on, Dubai

"Only when Ms. Dalelv declined to have positive and constructive discussions about her employment status, and ceased communication with her employer, was the company forced to end our relationship with her. The decision had nothing to do with the rape allegation.

Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining!

aardvark15 said:

I love that there was no connection between the two. It was just 1. She was arrested for being raped 2. She was fired. It's obvious readers are supposed to assume that Wissam is a stereotypical Arab man.

You know what? If Dubai wants to be seen as "western-friendly", terminating a woman battling a very public condemnation (over what? BEING raped) is certainly not going to win anyone over.

Wissam better smarten up right away, and realize how he acts now is how we will see him. This is a BIG political story without even bringing up his connection to Janet Jackson.

smoothcriminal12 said:

aardvark15 said:

I love that there was no connection between the two. It was just 1. She was arrested for being raped 2. She was fired. It's obvious readers are supposed to assume that Wissam is a stereotypical Arab man.

Well, so far, he is.

Cinny said:

alphastreet said:

Alcohol or not, she didn't ask to be raped, how do we know he wasn't drinking and got excused for simply being male? It just sounds like she is not taken seriously like millions of others, in all walks of life. I wonder what Janet thinks of this and feel it wouldn't sit well with me if she thought its ok.

the man was arrested and fired to.they both behaved inappropriately on company time.if my job sends me on a business trip and i end up in a scandal like this with my boss,guess what i wont have my job anymore.

Some people are so stupid and can't draw their own conclusions.

How many employers do you know that don't - or atleast don't want to - fire an employee that has been jailed as a convicted felon (however innocent she may claim to be).

Additionally, she was drinking on a business trip - which ofcourse doesn't consent to rape! - but may give probable ground for an employer to fire her.

Furthermore, the statement from the company suggests that they did try to assist her and blah blah...

Finally, Janet is smart enough to know that the woman wasn't fired solely on the grounds that she was raped and its probably not her business nor is she interested in her husbands business affairs.

aardvark15 said:

Cinny said:

Well, so far, he is.

Check reply #1

Check reply #10. I read it. I'm not impressed. Doesn't sound like they were being supportive when they needed to be.

[Edited 7/24/13 9:42am]

Azz said:

Some people are so stupid and can't draw their own conclusions.

How many employers do you know that don't - or atleast don't want to - fire an employee that has been jailed as a convicted felon (however innocent she may claim to be).

Additionally, she was drinking on a business trip - which ofcourse doesn't consent to rape! - but may give probable ground for an employer to fire her.

Furthermore, the statement from the company suggests that they did try to assist her and blah blah...

Finally, Janet is smart enough to know that the woman wasn't fired solely on the grounds that she was raped and its probably not her business nor is she interested in her husbands business affairs.

Where in the fuck do some of you work? Everywhere I've worked, and everywhere my friends have worked, they don't care if you drink on a work trip. You just can't charge the company for it, and you can't drink while you're attending a workshop or other official business. In fact, a lot of business dinners can be quite alcohol-soaked affairs. Hell, a lot of times whatever group is hosting the conference or your trip will provide the alcohol for you -- I've been on plenty of trips where that's happened.