This is a classic example of the expression “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing” Don’t believe everything you read guys. The facts of the story are as follows
1) This shia girl, went to the mall to meet an ex boyfriend with whom she had a relationship with.
2) This guy had taken compromising pictures of her while they were going out so she went to the mall to collect/demand these pictures back as he threatened to make these photos public and shame her.
3) On their way out of the Mall the couple were kidnapped by seven guys
4) The guy and girl were both gang raped by these seven guys
5) The seven guys were arrested, sentenced to 100 lashes each and given prison terms ranging from 2 to 9 years each
6) The original couple was sentenced to 90 lashes each for their unlawful relationship.
7) The male victim accepted his sentence and I guess is hiding due to shame
The girl challenges the sentence, appeals to a higher court and gets the media to exhort pressure on the courts system.
9) The higher court upholds the initial verdict and doubles her sentence to 200 lashes and 6 months in jail for using the media to influence the court.
10) she is appealing to the higher courts ruling and the story has gone global and has been distorted beyond recognition.
So this is not a case of double standards or bias against women as many people here think. There are two different offenses and two different sentences here. You can disagree with Islamic laws and norms but the courts only applied the laws. Most people think that this girl is being punished for being in the company of the seven guys that raped her or even worse, they think she is being punished for getting rapped and most people dont even know that the seven guys have been severely sentenced and punished.
