Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Jerome Delay/AP/PA

Pregnant teenager receives jail term after being gang-raped

The jail term has been suspended because of her pregnancy but she has also been fined around €640.

A PREGNANT SUDANESE teenager has been handed a one-month jail term for “indecent acivity” after being gang-raped, according to her lawyer.

“But the sentence was suspended because she is pregnant,” Samia Hashmi told AFP.

The woman was also fined 5,000 pounds (€640).

A man whose video of others having sex with the pregnant Ethiopian teen created a rare case of Internet controversy in the conservative nation was sentenced to 40 lashes the lawyer said.

Hashmi said three men who admitted to having sex with the woman were sentenced to 100 lashes while another man who filmed the acts received the 40-lash penalty for distributing indecent material.

“He was also fined 10,000 pounds and if he doesn’t pay he will be jailed for six months,” the lawyer said, adding two other men were acquitted after the trial in Khartoum.

The video published on social media showed sex acts and some of the men laughing.

Despite the popularity of mobile messaging service WhatsApp in Sudan, this was a rare case of such a crime being publicly flaunted in the conservative nation, where women risk flogging for leaving their hair uncovered under morality laws which took effect after the 1989 Islamist-backed coup by President Omar al-Bashir.

The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA Network), a regional association of women’s groups, said the 18-year-old pregnant woman was lured to an empty property and attacked while house-hunting last year.

Arrests were made after publication of the video in January, SIHA Network said on its website.

Hala Elkarib, the group’s regional director, said the verdict reflects the substantial challenges victims of sexual violence face in pursuing justice.

“It will also serve to prevent future victims from speaking out and seeking assistance and entrenches a culture of impunity for perpetrators,” Elkarib said.

- © AFP 2014 with additional reporting by Michelle Hennessy.

Read: Thirteen in court over India gang-rape ordered by tribal leader>

Read: India to hold vigils to mark anniversary of gang-rape victim’s death>

Author
View 141 comments
Close
141 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rodney Williams
    Favourite Rodney Williams
    Report
    Jun 25th 2019, 6:06 AM

    I hope they issue the warden with a taser!

    232
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Kavanagh
    Favourite Michael Kavanagh
    Report
    Jun 25th 2019, 7:27 AM

    @Rodney Williams:
    No.
    The threat of stiff suspended sentences for the first hundred offences will keep the baddies in line!

    180
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seamus Mac
    Favourite Seamus Mac
    Report
    Jun 25th 2019, 8:20 AM

    @Michael Kavanagh: followed by intensive probation.

    61
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rodney Williams
    Favourite Rodney Williams
    Report
    Jun 25th 2019, 10:01 AM

    @Michael Kavanagh:
    Wardens could hand out free “sweeties”, that keep them calm?World gone mad with “rights” these days!
    Except normal law abiding citizens have no rights.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute M
    Favourite M
    Report
    Jun 25th 2019, 12:16 PM

    @Rodney Williams: or a bazooka

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rathminder
    Favourite Rathminder
    Report
    Jun 25th 2019, 7:29 AM

    Regular walk throughs by the Garda would be helpful. I’ve seen middle class teenagers refuse to listen to a warden. The guards improved the area on the south side of the O’Connell Street bridge when they had a regular appearance there.

    118
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aidan Kearney, Wicklow CCRO.Leinsterrugby
    Favourite Aidan Kearney, Wicklow CCRO.Leinsterrugby
    Report
    Jun 25th 2019, 8:28 AM

    A great little country to visit yet a minority who are anti social close down a public park? Full time warden with a body webcam is a minimum requirement. Take pride in our city and parks.

    84
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hans Flouride
    Favourite Hans Flouride
    Report
    Jun 25th 2019, 8:40 AM

    Simple solution – open the supervised injection centre on merchants quay. No more open heroin use in nearby public parks.

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ConPhoto
    Favourite ConPhoto
    Report
    Jun 25th 2019, 1:37 PM

    Area is rife with anti social behaviour, they are deluded if they think a warden will keep it at bay

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Artugal
    Favourite Artugal
    Report
    Jun 25th 2019, 12:37 PM

    So wait, they upgraded the park?

    Hi, I’m from outside Dublin. Wtf kind of msg is that? Be antisocial enough and we’ll upgrade your junkie park?

    Country is so centralised it makes me sick

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Grainne Tallon
    Favourite Grainne Tallon
    Report
    Jun 25th 2019, 1:17 PM

    @Artugal: I don’t think the kids are being anti-social with the aim to get the park facilities upgraded…

    14
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds