Norwegian Woman Home from Dubai after Rape Case
A Norwegian woman who narrowly escaped jail after reporting she was raped in Dubai arrived home on Wednesday, telling media that she had acted "stupidly" during her prolonged ordeal.
Marte Dalelv, 24, said in an interview with a local newspaper that she had been tricked into withdrawing her initial rape report, exposing herself to being convicted for consensual extramarital sex.
The new details emerged after Dalelv's plane touched down at Sandefjord Airport, 120 kilometers (75 miles) south of Oslo, to a waiting crowd of journalists.
"Finally," Dalelv said as she hugged her mother. "It's a little emotional, but it's so good."
A Dubai court recently sentenced Dalelv to 16 months in prison for extramarital sex, perjury and consuming alcohol without a licence, after she had lodged a complaint against her boss, saying he had raped her.
Her case took a dramatic turn earlier this week, when Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum pardoned her on all counts.
The case, in which an alleged rape victim ended up being convicted herself, had attracted international attention as it was seen as highlighting the weak legal position of women in some parts of the world.
In an interview with the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, Dalelv said her employer had persuaded her to retract her initial rape report, providing a basis under local law to accuse her of perjury and extramarital sex.
"My boss told me it would be much easier for me that way, since it's extremely hard to get anyone sentenced for rape here," she was quoted as telling the paper.
"It's the biggest mistake I've ever made. It was incredibly stupid of me, but that was the advice I got."
Source: Agence France Presse
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