Accuser imprisoned in sex assault in Somalia
Source: Agencies |
February 6, 2013, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A COURT in Mogadishu court yesterday handed down one-year prison sentences to a woman who said she was raped by security forces and a reporter who interviewed her. The judges decided the woman falsely claimed she was raped and had insulted the government.
The judges based their decision on medical evidence, the court's top official, Ahmed Aden Farah, said. Farah said the woman's prison term would be delayed so she could care for her child.
Rights groups have decried the case as politically motivated because the woman had accused security forces of the assault.
Rape is reported to be rampant in Mogadishu, where f thousands of people who fled last year's famine live in poorly protected camps.
The sentences may result in even fewer victims coming forward, rights groups fear.
"The court's decision to convict an alleged rape victim and journalist who interviewed her is a terrible miscarriage of justice and sends a chilling signal to victims of sexual assault in Somalia," said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
The woman was charged with insulting a government body, false evidence, simulating a criminal offense and making a false accusation. Journalist Abdiaziz Abdinur was charged with insulting a government body and inducing the woman to give false evidence.
The judges based their decision on medical evidence, the court's top official, Ahmed Aden Farah, said. Farah said the woman's prison term would be delayed so she could care for her child.
Rights groups have decried the case as politically motivated because the woman had accused security forces of the assault.
Rape is reported to be rampant in Mogadishu, where f thousands of people who fled last year's famine live in poorly protected camps.
The sentences may result in even fewer victims coming forward, rights groups fear.
"The court's decision to convict an alleged rape victim and journalist who interviewed her is a terrible miscarriage of justice and sends a chilling signal to victims of sexual assault in Somalia," said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
The woman was charged with insulting a government body, false evidence, simulating a criminal offense and making a false accusation. Journalist Abdiaziz Abdinur was charged with insulting a government body and inducing the woman to give false evidence.
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