Marte Deborah Dalelv Rape Incident

Guybrush · 07-19-2013, 10:12 AM

I first posted about this in the Rape - Whose Fault Is It?, but while it relates strongly to the theme of that thread, I think it deserves its own.

Marte Deborah Dalelv is a 24 year old Norwegian woman who was raped by a colleague on a business trip to Dubai. Immediately after escaping her rapist, she reported the incident to the police who responded by jailing her. She has been imprisoned for sex outside marriage which is illegal under sharia law. The fact this sex was forced on her against her will doesn't seem important.

This happened four months ago. She has now been sentenced to 16 months in prison and is having trouble paying her legal fees. Her employers, The One Planet, who should have helped her out have instead fired her.

I want to post about it here in its own thread because I think more awareness regarding this will put more pressure on Dubai to release Marte so she can come home. Also, this should be an important reminder that women especially should be careful when travelling abroad to countries where women are oppressed. Me and my wife have taken Dubai off our list of holiday destinations.

Guybrush · 07-19-2013, 10:14 AM

Another copy & paste from the other thread follows :

If anyone wants to try and help out Marte Deborah Dalelv who has been imprisoned in Dubai due to her own rape, here are some suggestions to some simple things you can do.

There's an online petition for her release here : Release Marte Deborah Dalelv
There's a facebook page you can "like" here : https://www.facebook.com/releasemarte
There's also an open facebook group one can join. This group has gotten some attention in Norwegian media : https://www.facebook.com/groups/rele...deborahdalelv/
You can put some pressure on Dubai, f.ex tell them you would not go on vacation to a country that imprisons victims of crimes. Their fb page which has a post mentioning Marte can be found here : https://www.facebook.com/DubaiCity1

Finally, Marte was also fired by her employer, The One Planet, for her behaviour.

Link to a scan of the letter from her employer

Considering this happened on her business trip, I am horrified that they would not support her like helping her out with legal fees. If I travel abroad on a business trip, I am well insured and assume my employer would help me out should I become the victim of a crime, as any employer should. I sent an email to them. If you want to complain to them, their facebook page is here (though it may be down at the moment) and their twitter is here. You can also send an email to them at the following adress : theone@theone.com

If you want to send them something, but don't know what to write, you can copy and paste this text which was written by Norwegian blogger Gunnar Tjomlid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tjomlid

Dear Management,

I am shocked and horrified to read that you chose to fire Marte Deborah Dalelv after learning about her arrest in Dubai, March 6th 2013.

Dubai imprisons Norwegian woman who reported rape

I do not know the full details of the events, but whatever happened I can not understand how you could choose to not support her after she had been charged for having «sex outside of marriage» when she reported being raped. We do not know if she’s guilty of perjury, and I do not know if she did anything else stupid or illegal the night before the arrest, but that doesn’t change the situation. You have actively chosen to support a religious fundamentalist regime which condones sexual violence against women, and that is despicable.

You state on your Facebook page that you want to change the world and make it a better place. Well, this is your golden opportunity. I hope you reverse your decision and give Ms Dalelv all the support she needs right now, including covering all her legal costs.

Thank you for listening.

Source for the letter >> THE One – give ‘em hell! | SAKSYNT

Paul Smeenus · 07-19-2013, 10:35 AM

I was not aware of this and I'm outraged and mortified.

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 07-19-2013, 10:45 AM

I've signed the petition and shared it with Facebook. Poor woman. I can't even imagine what she must be going through mentally right now from not only being raped but being imprisoned for having sex out of marriage. How can they force their religious laws on her? She's from Norway and she's not Muslim so how can they do it?!

After being raped she needs support, especially for her mental health. She must be so frightened. If she doesn't speak Arabic it may be making it even more difficult for her.

The Batlord · 07-19-2013, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanilla

How can they force their religious laws on her? She's from Norway and she's not Muslim so how can they do it?!

Well, it's another country. You have to abide by that country's laws just like if you were a citizen...even if those laws are backward and repulsive.

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 07-19-2013, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Well, it's another country. You have to abide by that country's laws just like if you were a citizen...even if those laws are backward and repulsive.

It's so backwards. Why can't tourists have rights like they do in their originating country?

LoathsomePete · 07-19-2013, 12:02 PM

I signed the petition and shared a link on my facebook page (first post of mine since June 11) so I'm hoping that will gain some traction as a few people on my friends list are pretty active with petitions.

This is truly disgusting though and yet another reason to never visit Dubai. This is one of those situations where Anonymous actually come in handy as they can at least ruin the life of the rapist and make life an uncomfortable hell for The One Planet as they have to shelter this shit storm.

The Batlord · 07-19-2013, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanilla

It's so backwards. Why can't tourists have rights like they do in their originating country?

Would you want some guy from Dubai having the right to treat you like a woman in his own country?

Paul Smeenus · 07-19-2013, 12:15 PM

Senators Murray and Cantwell will be hearing from me. I would ask every American I know to communicate the offices of their state senators as well.

katsy · 07-19-2013, 12:42 PM

Thanks for posting the links, Tore. I also have signed, e-mailed, and shared via social media.

07-19-2013, 10:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	Marte Deborah Dalelv Rape Incident I first posted about this in the Rape - Whose Fault Is It?, but while it relates strongly to the theme of that thread, I think it deserves its own. Marte Deborah Dalelv is a 24 year old Norwegian woman who was raped by a colleague on a business trip to Dubai. Immediately after escaping her rapist, she reported the incident to the police who responded by jailing her. She has been imprisoned for sex outside marriage which is illegal under sharia law. The fact this sex was forced on her against her will doesn't seem important. This happened four months ago. She has now been sentenced to 16 months in prison and is having trouble paying her legal fees. Her employers, The One Planet, who should have helped her out have instead fired her. I want to post about it here in its own thread because I think more awareness regarding this will put more pressure on Dubai to release Marte so she can come home. Also, this should be an important reminder that women especially should be careful when travelling abroad to countries where women are oppressed. Me and my wife have taken Dubai off our list of holiday destinations. __________________ Something Completely Different Last edited by Guybrush; 07-19-2013 at 10:20 AM.

07-19-2013, 10:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
Scarlett O'Hara Make it so Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6,181	I've signed the petition and shared it with Facebook. Poor woman. I can't even imagine what she must be going through mentally right now from not only being raped but being imprisoned for having sex out of marriage. How can they force their religious laws on her? She's from Norway and she's not Muslim so how can they do it?! After being raped she needs support, especially for her mental health. She must be so frightened. If she doesn't speak Arabic it may be making it even more difficult for her. __________________ "Elph is truly an enfant terrible of the forum, bless and curse him" - Marie, Queen of Thots

07-19-2013, 12:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	I signed the petition and shared a link on my facebook page (first post of mine since June 11) so I'm hoping that will gain some traction as a few people on my friends list are pretty active with petitions. This is truly disgusting though and yet another reason to never visit Dubai. This is one of those situations where Anonymous actually come in handy as they can at least ruin the life of the rapist and make life an uncomfortable hell for The One Planet as they have to shelter this shit storm. __________________ Last.FM 101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

07-19-2013, 12:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
katsy Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 286	Thanks for posting the links, Tore. I also have signed, e-mailed, and shared via social media. __________________ Split the Lark-- and you'll find the Music - Emily Dickinson