A Dutch woman has been convicted of having sex outside marriage by a Qatari court after making a report of rape to the police.
The 22-year-old received a suspended sentence, fined $824 (£580), and will face deportation once the fine has been paid.
The woman’s lawyer, Brian Lokollo, said she had gone to police on 15 March to report being raped after having her drink spiked at a Doha hotel and waking up in a stranger’s flat.
The woman was detained by Qatari police for three months after filing the rape report and awaiting trial.
The alleged male rapist claimed the sex was consensual, and was also convicted of sex outside marriage, known as “zina under Islamic law”, and sentenced to 100 lashes. He will receive a further 40 lashes for consuming alcohol.
Both were convicted under Article 281 of the Qatari penal code, which states:
“Whoever copulates with a female over 16 without compulsion, duress or ruse shall be punished with imprisonment for a term up to seven years. The same penalty shall also be imposed on the female for her consent.”
The Dutch ambassador to Qatar, Yvette Burghgraef-van Eechoud told AFP that she “will do everything to get her out of the country as soon as possible”.
The case raises questions about how Qatar will handle football fans and tourists expected to flock to the small Islamic country for the 2020 World Cup.
