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{Update2}
Ask broke the good news coming out of Norway – here.
BREAKING NEWS:
Norwegian woman in Dubai sex case is pardoned
{Update1}
It appears Al Mana Interiors kept its own interest as first priority. A terrible shameful act, they should have provided Ms. Dalelv with independent legal counsel. Make sure to always be in a position to control your own life, no matter what. Ms. Dalelv added one mistake on top of another. Unless the media provides more attention to this case, Ms. Dalelv will do jail time in Dubai IMHO.
PS Al Mana Interiors has deleted it’s Facebook page in last 24 hours! Here is the link to Al Mana Fashions.
Thanks to Cicero for his insightful comment from Dubai, UAE and to ask for the Norwegian political take.
“Janet Jackson’s husband fires woman for reporting rape from colleague” – Qatari billionaire Wissam Al Mana
If one doesn’t know the local customs and/or legal system, don’t go it alone when traveling or staying in the United Arab Emirates. Their laws are based on interpretation of Sharia and are very harsh on women and disadvantageous to all foreigners staying and working in the country. I can speak from personal experience (18 years ago) and it appears little has changed for the better. When you have a conflict with a local, only as last resort enter the legal system because as a foreigner you do not have any legal status to win a case! This Norwegian woman was raped by a colleague (local man?) during a night out and was warned by clerks at the hotel whether she was sure to call the police. She ended up being charged for adultery, use of alcohol and faces a jail sentence. Her employer Al Mana Interiors has terminated her employment.
A 24-year-old Norwegian woman has been sentenced to a year and four months in prison – original NRK Norway
(NRK Norway) – Hani El Korek, spokesman for Al Mana Interiors. In a press release, he writes about why the firm deprived Marte Deborah Dalelven of her job after she reported a colleague for rape in Dubai.
The 24-year-old woman was sentenced to 16 months in prison for having sex outside of marriage, to have drunk alcohol and to have made a false statement to police.
When Dalselv was jailed in Dubai the company did not notify her family. Her stepfather, Torgeir Furesund, has told NRK that he was little impressed with the way they handled the matter.
Great concern
The case has aroused strong reactions and commitment both in Norway and internationally. People use social media to say what they think about the treatment of Dalelven and Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said that the verdict against her is completely unacceptable.
On Saturday the Liberal leader Trine Skei Grande said that she believes the State Department must consider whether Dubai is a country that is safe for women to travel.
Human rights activist in the Emirates Rori Donaghy has stated that Dalelven has a good chance to get out of Dubai, if Norwegian authorities put pressure on the right people. Follow Rori Donaghy on twitter.
London-bred Wissam’s interest in fashion and his Al Mana Luxury Enterprise.
Continued below the fold …
Meanwhile, her former employer Al Mana Interiors has released a statement expressing sympathy with Ms Dalelv’s situation and explaining the circumstances of her dismissal. The firm is owned by billionaire Wissam Al Mana, pop star Janet Jackson’s husband.
For us in the Gulf, especially for those in Qatar, Al Mana is already a household name. With interests in every thing from car rentals to steel and oil and gas to engineering, the company, run by Wissam and his two brothers is one of Qatar’s oldest and largest business entities.
But it’s the London-bred Wissam’s interest in fashion – his Al Mana Luxury owns the franchises of everything from Alexander McQueen, Giorgio Armani, Dior Homme and Marc Jacobs in Qatar and Saks Fifth Avenue in Dubai – that led him to a certain Miss Jackson.
Statement on Marte Dalelv by Al Mana Interiors, W.L.L. Spokesperson Hani El Korek
DOHA, Qatar, July 20, 2013 CNW – Hani El Korek, spokesperson for Al Mana Interiors W.L.L., today released the following statement:
“We are sympathetic to Marte Dalelv during this very difficult situation. Al Mana Interiors has repeatedly offered Marte support and company representatives were by her side throughout the initial investigation and police interviews, and spent days at both the police station and the prosecutor’s office to help win her release.
Company representatives have been supportive and in communication with Marte throughout her ordeal. Only when Ms. Dalelv declined to have positive and constructive discussions about her employment status, and ceased communication with her employer, was the company forced to end our relationship with her.”