A Dutch woman on vacation in Doha, Qatar was allegedly raped and taken into custody after reporting the attack. She was sentenced for adultery but will be permitted to return home, said Dutch authorities.
Daphne Kerremans, a spokeswoman for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs told ABC News: "The Dutch ambassador to Qatar is with her right now. We will help her to go home as soon as possible."
After the case was investigated by Doha authorities, the 22-year-old victim, who was detained for three months was given a year-long sentence including a fine, reports ABC News.
"She was sentenced for adultery and being drunk in public," Kerremans said, adding that the charges were the same for the man who allegedly assaulted her. "I think he got [a sentence of] 140 lashes. Our embassy has been involved since day one. We are relieved" that she will be able to return to the Netherlands."
Brian Lokollo, the lawyer representing the woman who is being identified by Dutch authorities only by her first name, Laura, told The Associated Press that she was detained immediately after reporting the attack. Brian said Laura believes her drink was tampered with while she was at the hotel bar. She awoke later with ripped clothing.
"The Dutch government and embassy are in close contact with the defendant and her family in the Netherlands," the Dutch Embassy in Qatar said in a statement. "We have provided assistance to her since the first day of detention. For the sake of the defendant’s case, we will not make further comments at this point."
A court official told Al Jazeera, on condition of anonymity, that the man involved was from Syria and the one-year suspended sentence for the Dutchwoman was "lenient" compared with what a Muslim woman would face.
The man has been sentenced to receive 100 lashes for illicit sex acts and an additional 40 lashes as punishment for public intoxication and will be deported, Al Jazeera reported.
The Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Doha and the Qatari Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for comment.
The case has sparked widespread outrage on social media and brought attention to the strict interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia, practiced in Qatar.
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
