Woman, 29, sues UAE five-star hotel after she was raped… then JAILED for having sex outside of marriage

By Daily Mail Reporter The Daily Mail

Last updated at 12:21 PM on 30th March 2011

An Australian woman is suing a five-star UAE hotel after she was drugged and raped by co-workers – but ended up in jail for eight months for having sex outside marriage.

Alicia Gali, 29, had her drink spiked and was raped by four co-workers at the luxury Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in the United Arab Emirates in June 2008.

She is seeking compensation from her former employer for breaching its workplace duty of care after she reported the assault to authorities, only to be jailed for eight months on an adultery charge.
Victim: Alicia Gali, 29, had her drink spiked and was raped by four co-workers at the luxury Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in June 2008 but ended up in jail for having sex outside of marriageVictim: Alicia Gali (pictured here in Venice, Italy) had her drink spiked and was raped by four co-workers at the luxury Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in June 2008 but ended up in jail for having sex outside of marriage

Ms Gali spent eight months in prison as having sex outside marriage in the UAE is illegal.

Australian embassy staff advised Ms Gali and her family not to go to the media during her time in custody, when she was locked in a cell with 30 other women.

She has since been pardoned and was released in March 2009.

Ms Gali claims the hotel failed to protect staff against assault and its legal consequences.

She alleges the resort encouraged workers to drink illegally, despite strict laws and the requirement of drinking permits.

The ‘harrowing’ ordeal has since caused Ms Gali severe post traumatic stress disorder, nightmares, flashbacks, depression and claustrophobia, according to her lawyer Melissa Payne.

Ms Gali said: ‘I thought I would be safe and protected in an international hotel group.
‘They didn’t give me the correct advice and didn’t help me when I was charged and imprisoned.

‘I still feel angry and upset. It’s distressing because I was a victim in all this and I was punished.

‘The UAE is being promoted hugely here as a tourism destination – they sponsor things here.

‘They are not complying with human rights, women’s rights and migrant workers’ rights.’

Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort describes itself as ‘a paradise on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates’.

The website for the resort says: ‘The resort is perfectly placed for guests to make the most of the Emirates’ year-round sunshine’.

Ms Payne says the incident could have been avoided, as the hotel should have had segregated quarters for female employees and provide adequate induction training on the local laws and customs.

Ms Payne said: ‘When she reported the assault to the human resources manager he did not advise her of the potential consequences of reporting that assault.

‘Alicia’s employer has let her down in the most terrible, terrible of ways. A company like this should know better.

‘The resort promotes itself as paradise on Earth… it wasn’t paradise for Alicia.

‘Alicia is very concerned there are other women who might find themselves in similar situations. ‘She now feels brave enough to speak out.’

Trey Maurice from the resort’s parent company Starwood Hotels, said safety and security of staff is a paramount priority.

Mr Maurice says the management of the resort was aware of the unfortunate circumstances and provided support and assistance to Ms Gali and her family during her imprisonment.

Ms Payne said Ms Gali’s lawsuit against the resort was likely to take place in court in Queensland, Australia, but could possible happen in the UAE.

An exact figure for the compensation has yet to be determined, Ms Payne said.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1371240/Woman-29-sues-UAE-star-hotel-raped–JAILED-having-sex-outside-marriage.html#ixzz1I64YPNb3

About Eeyore

Canadian artist and counter-jihad and freedom of speech activist as well as devout Schrödinger's catholic

7 Replies to “Woman, 29, sues UAE five-star hotel after she was raped… then JAILED for having sex outside of marriage”

  1. My heart goes out to the woman.

    Why on earth would a woman go to a middle eastern country? I don’t understand people’s thought process. I truly don’t. I’m not about to go mountain climbing in Afghanistan, and if I did, I’d be a utter moron.

  2. I am with you Sean, any woman with good sense knows how women are treated in Islamic countries and doesn’t go to them. I feel sorry for her but she must accept that she is partially to blame for what happened, Islamic nations aren’t like Western Nations and their men don’t act like Western men.

  3. There’s only one thing to say to non Muslim women; don’t go to Muslim countries for vacation or work unless your ready to loos your human rights and can accept that nobody can help you when things gets ugly.

  4. I hope that there will be something resembling justice in this case.

    But that would be wishing for all Muslims to abandon the koran, the hadiths, the sira and sharia law in favour of human justice. And that ain’t gonna happen.

    And as far as western women going to Muslim countries is concerned, there are tens of thousands of women who are married to oil and gas workers, construction workers and are airline flight attendants who have little choice but to go there. Its disgusting that they should have to fear for their lives, but they do.

    When the colonial powers held much of the Middle East and other Muslim regions of the world, there was probably not as much crime against non-Muslims that went unpunished by the governments. Once the Europeans had to give up these territories, it was game over for human rights, especially for women.

    Its only because of OPEC oil and gas that the west tolerates anything from Muslim countries at all, and thats a shame.

    Good luck to her and every woman who has been abused in Muslim countries by Muslim men. They really need a break and some true justice, not the sham that is sharia.

  5. Why is she blaming the hotel when it is perfectly legal to drink when under the influence of Jihad?

  6. Ms Gali’s lawsuit against the resort could possible happen in the UAE? These people never learn, do they?

  7. Le Méridien Al Aqah
    30 March, 2011

    The circumstances in June 2008 concerning Alicia Gali, a former employee of the Le Méridien Al Aqah hotel, were deplorable. While the hotel worked diligently on Ms. Gali’s behalf, the authorities investigated and prosecuted the case under the local laws. Additionally, the men involved were also prosecuted and each served prison terms before being deported. As for Ms. Gali’s lawsuit, we disagree with the allegations.

    The hotel management provided support and assistance to Ms. Gali and her family throughout that time including assisting with medical support, arranging for financial support, assistance with the investigation, liaising with her representative Australian embassy and coordinating and arranging affairs with her family in Australia.

    As this matter is part of an open investigation, we cannot comment further at this time.

    The safety and security of our associates and guests continues to be a paramount priority.