Somali Court Clears Woman Alleging Rape-Ausia Jones
A Somali appeals court has cleared a woman who accused security forces of raping her but upheld the conviction of a journalist who interviewed her.The judge said that journalist Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim had disrespected the country's law, the New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a Sunday statement, noting that it was unclear exactly what law he broke. His one-year sentence was cut to six months.Both the woman and the journalist were sentenced to a year in prison last month. A lower court said the woman made false rape accusations and insulted the government. Human Rights Watch calls for the journalist to be let go. "Women should be able to seek justice for rape and other gender-based violence without fear of retribution, and journalists in Somalia must be free to work without being subjected to violence and harassment."U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had called on Somalia to ensure that the journalist and the woman get a fair trial, including the right of appeal. I think those women are crazy for making up lies about avery serious subject. They deserved to be punished in my opinion.
Site: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/03/world/africa/somalia-rape-victim/index.html?hpt=iaf_c2
I read this story last week, and I am glad she is free! How do we know she's not telling the truth? I could definitely see a government trying to cover up that their security forces raped a woman. I feel like her being released will give others the freedom to share if they were victims of abuse. I hope the journalist is released as well, because all he was doing was exercising his freedom of speech.
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