Dubai: "The City that Cares"

[SKELLYTOR]

hmmm, sounds like a very similiar incident that happened to a male cabin crew from qr.
apparently he accepted a ride from 2 locals in doha one night as there was no cabs available.
they brought him to a nearby desert, took turns to rape him then stole his belongings. they then dropped him off to a nearby street and sped off.
however unlike the british girl, the culprits were never caught and the qr management fired him as soon as they heard the news.
the management even advised him against reporting the matter to the police!
sounds like incidents like this are not uncommon in the GCC states...

[Dct no speed]

Rapist should be hanged in public for all to see! If you are a not the death penalty type, sorry for you!
Did this girl deserve it? No!Is 2 years enough? No!

Is Dubai the worst place in the world? No!

I agree that it is not the safe place it use to be but let me say this: Crime is everywhere and judgements not always what it should be.

I'll give you an idea of how easy it is to miss the big picture.400 soldiers die in Iraq in a war zone! Bad ?Yes. Make front pages news all over the world! 21 000 people die in crime related incidents in South Africa.The proudly South African Campain advertise South Africa as a safe place a "great place for a family holidy"Did this make the front page?No!

Her Majesty's country.Girls get raped outside nightclubs, gangs of young kids go out at night (some only 13) and beat up and even kill defenseless people.They record this on their phones and brag about it or put it on web pages.

School kids take guns to school in Canada and shoot teachers and kids.

I need not mention America as we all know how much fun it is travelling in this newest of police states in the world!

What's my point:Judge for yourself if the "City that cares" is the only place in the world that has crime.If you don't like it here I feel sorry for you. Is it your place to run a city down because you are not happy? I don't know?
Some of us are here because it is a better place than our own countries.Some of us are here because we have fled for our lives.
If you have never lived in fear you will never understand it.
No one has shot anyone here, just to take their phone.People don't break into your house and rape your 3 year old baby and wive, kill the father and then steal only the VCR and Tv!
I dont see people Hi-Jacked at gunpoint shot and killed. Policeman don't get killed by people with road rage! Babies don't get raped because someone told them it will prevent AIDS.Farmers don't get killed or chased of their land by 21 year old "War Veterans"(By the way where was the USA,England,Australia,New Zeeland and Canada when that happend? Oh sorry no Oil in Zim! I forgot)

Is Dubai crime free? No!
Do people drive like idiots?Yes!
Is it only locals?No!
Strange how you get cut of in traffic or flashed or see cars parked on the Disabled parking with a SA,Canadia,New Zeeland,Australian,GB or Swedes wheel covers or flags on the back!

Please as the Good Book say: Let he who have no sin cast the first stone

[Outta Heresoon]

All good posts gentlemen.

If i may postulate...I can totally understand the plight of those from SA and various other areas of the world with runaway crime and human rights violations.

I have yet to hear, however, of anyone from the UK, continental Europe, Austrailia, or North America comming to Dubai to escape the ravages of crime.

No Country is perfect. No society is crime free, but for those contemplating a move here, it's only a "heads up" that due to the massive changes in the UAE, and with it's inherent judicial and law enforcement system, that we are bound to see some profound changes in some of the lesser spoken about "Dark sides" here.

Much of the crime anywhere can be linked with the percieved disparity between the "have's" and "have-nots", and the culture of tollerance within the country.
--not accounting for the instability of some individuals concerned of course.

[1972]

The rape incident

To all of you smug muppets speculating about what happened, why it happened and if it happened, do any of you have daughters? Probably not. You wouldn’t have it in you. But if you did, and your daughter experienced a similar incident, would you be making these ridiculous comments? Of course not. Grow up and/or grow a brain.

Originally Posted by vbalasu

there are better things to be discussed at this forum.

Gutter language intended as a wind-up removed. Sure it's OK to get wound up '72; this is a serious issue but consider the fact that young people read these forums. Do you want them to be reading this language? 4HP

[SKELLYTOR]

1972,
.......... a little too harsh, don't you think??

[1972]

No, the guy is an idiot and is here purely to kick up a stink. Treat him with the contempt he deserves.

[BigGeordie]

1972, I don't have a daughter and I don't pretend to know all the facts of the case, just what I have read here and in the papers However, if I did have a daughter I would hope she would have more sense than to get into any kind of car with a group of strange men at any time of day or night. There are plenty of cabs in Dubai. You wouldn't dream of doing it in the UK, America or Australia so why should it be okay in Dubai?

Having said that, 2 years is obviously nowhere near enough for a crime like that.

[sdcycles]

7 days 'Heads up' info

I wanted to add some Heads Up info to the thread but the 7 Days website 'Letters to the editor ' section is currently unavailable. Perhaps the internet connection is better outside Dubai. Maybe 'first world' people here are trying to vent their anger at the 'third world' rape case verdict. Who knows. Website is:
www.7DAYS.ae
It's popular read with expats.

Of interest if you are thinking of "Buying into the Dream" are the
Letters to the Ed, or Most read articles. Do a search.
Building a road through Emirates Hills will get a result. Date recent.
'Loss of second hand market drivers up rents' Wednesday 22/02/06
(their spelling mistake) By Abdul Mohamid, Dubai
'Shattered Dreams' Wednesday 09/11/05
'Should a two million dirham villa look like this?' Wednesday 09/11/05

The veneer of civilisation is very thin in this region. People either accept it as part of the deal or pretend it's not there. Presumably they work on the basis that it'll never happen to them. Good luck.

I'm wondering what I'm doing here now. It's a huge construction site from the airport to where I live, traffic journeys into town are a nightmare and someone has a good bash at maiming or killing me on my bike every other day. This is my last summer unless there is a catastrophe or I get nailed on the SZH. Still some good bits but time to go. A judgement like the above will help some make their minds up.

Naughty but pretty dim for sure.
vbalasu. Your comments made my first world skin crawl. It would probably be better to stay under your rock for awhile. At least until you slough another skin chap.

[Scudsy]

She was NOT "ASKING" FOR IT

MY GOD some of these posts are unbelievably stupid and misogynous.
I've been to the Madinat and to Trilogy and it's just another club. ITS NOT in a dodgy area, it's a very safe area (or one would believe so until this story was released). It's a tourist area with the best hotels in all of Dubai and the 7 star Burg Al Arab overlooking it. Jumeira is possibly the smartest part of Dubai.
What in heavens name is making some of you dickheads think that she was IN ANY WAY "asking for it" or acting stupidly. You must be wind up merchants OR terminally STUPID.
Idiots the lot of you.
FACTS:
The Gang worked from 2 cars. One group scared the girl witless and the other group played "nice guys" and offered her a lift away from a frightening situation when no taxis were close by to escape in. Any man could chose that option and not be accused of making a stupid choice.
If my daughter made that choice would I think her unwise? NO.
Would I think that a woman aged in her twenties should have to avoid this area? NO.
Women have the right to flirt with men.
Women have the right to get drunk,
Women have the right to GET LAID,
They NEVER "deserve" to be GANG raped after a night out!
She DID NOTHING WRONG
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
Anybody thinking otherwise is a complete Neanderthal and doesn’t have the intelligence to be anywhere the controls of an aircraft. A bunch of losers are making some very dumb comments on this thread.

[Dubai Expat]

This is my first post here and sadly not something aviation related, but very important to write about.The Letters to the Editir are still available, see here http://www.7days.ae/letters-to-the-editor.htmlTo blame this incident on the victim is at the very least purely naive but more so just plain disgusting.As has been mentioned before, the girl was scared, she was being followed and harassed by a group of local young men and was 'rescued' by another couple of nicer guys and given the circumstances decided to accept the offer of a lift, this was whilst she was waiting for a taxi. The rest has been well documented but what is interesting was the defendants claims that she 'agreed to have sex with them.' I know of no one who would knowingly agree to have consensual sex with six men she has just met.A search for “Gang Rape Dubai” resulted in 118,000 hits, but try this for further reading:A businesswoman who accused three men of gang rape has been arrested in Dubai and faces trial on charges of adultery.http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...03/wgang03.xmlThe following is banned by the local censors:www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=5676 Another good article specifically targeting the Gang Rape mentality is found here:http://secretdubai.********.com/2005...i_archive.htmlThe shocking outcome of the case is now being highlighted in the local press, which is a good thing, but the memories of the event will scar this young girl's life forever. Her life has been changed forever because of this, Dubai has also changed dramatically in the five years service that I have given.

[4PW's]

I feel truly sorry for all you ex-South African's. You must have been through hell.

I overnight in Jo'berg, and feel it is without doubt the worst stopover I have ever made. I detest the place, and the people.

Nonetheless, to compare the problems of living in Africa with this rape case in Dubai is illogical.

Dubai is not Africa.

This rape case has nothing to do with Africa.

If you want the world to feel sorry for you, start another thread. I'm perfectly sure it'll be well read as there's lots to shock the world with.

As for those questioning the motives of the girl, to whatever degree, I look forward to seeing you similarly stricken with the grief her parents must now feel.

You are, without doubt, vermin!

[fatigueflyer]

Just to summarise:
1) Unless you are a local, expect a longer sentence
2) Unless you know that sheikh, expect a longer sentence
3) Unless you are a local, you are NOT above the law
4) Another lane on SZR has just increased your chances of being in an accident
5) From the few stupid posts regarding this thread, its ok to rape and get a lenient sentence, if you are a local
6) Dubai is NOT a safe place, unless you are a local
7) We are guests in this country.....keep this in mind
8) Better jobs out there....definitely...unless you happen to have your life's savings invested here!
9) Good luck!

[1972]

Originally Posted by 4HP

Gutter language intended as a wind-up removed. Sure it's OK to get wound up '72; this is a serious issue but consider the fact that young people read these forums. Do you want them to be reading this language? 4HP

Come again? Gutter language? You can't be serious.

No word I posted that you have since removed came from the gutter - not one single expletive was included. So why the deletion?

All I did was treat someone with contempt who blatantly visited this thread purely with the intention to wind others up... and you gag ME for putting the little toe-rag in his place?

As for the 'young people' of this forum, I wonder how young they really are considering the fact this forum is intended for PILOTS. And if you think that ANY 'child' of 16 or more hasn't heard much worse than that, you must be living in a gloriously cocooned environment reminiscent of days from the Victorian era, or maybe you've been in the highly censored city of Dubai for too long?

By deleting my quote am I to think that if there's any 'young people' out there reading this, you'd sooner have them believe from all these supremely naiive, bigoted and dispicable posts that the poor girl was stupid for being alone and accepting a lift in the first place and therefore she had it coming to her, rather than have me writing non-offensive language in an attempt to rid this already appalling thread of a transparent bafoon from making further comment?

It's sad that things like this happen worldwide, but most other countries have the sense to recognise a crime and punish the perpetrators accordingly.

Does no-one here get it? The crime here is not just committing an act which the perpetrators should be made to pay heavily for, it's Dubai's pathetic attempt at identifying a crime and delivering 'justice'.

And for all the halfwits here who say the girl is at fault, you're also guilty of committing a crime - of indifference. If this is the stand you take, what example does that set for the future?

4HP, I think what you should be more concerned about where your 'young' readership is concerned, is that you are allowing people here to display an attitude which suggests it's okay for future perpetrators to get off lightly after committing such a heinous crime AND that an innocent victim was partly to blame. Wonderful.

To all the 'young' readers in here, especially YOUNG FEMALES, I hope you realise what standards your so-called 'peers' are setting by;

1) stooping so low as to bring into question the actions of an innocent woman who happens to be the victim of all this, and....
2) the lowly standards of mens behaviour that your 'peers' here seem willing to accept.

That said, some time in the future, you 'young people' might want to thank your 'peers' - people like those here - for turning your neighbourhood into a place where you are unable to leave the house at any time of the day or night for fear of being mugged, raped or murdered.

And by the way, I couldn't agree more with Scudsy who questions whether any of you are smart enough to be at the controls of an aircraft considering your laughably uneducated viewpoints posted here.

If its any indication of your level of intellect and competence inside the cockpit, I hope to god I never have the misfortune to fly with any of you.

I have an unenviable task '72 - moderation. When you made a reference to @nal sex I felt it was a little OTT and removed the reference.That is all. No gagging - go ahead, just keep it nice please. 4HP

[03Rnow30R]

4PW's,

So sorry you had a terrible stay in South Africa and detest South Africans. We may live in another country, but I assure you we are not ex-South Africans. I will be back in SA when my contract here is done.

In the beginnig of this thread it was mentioned that folks should consider the recent crimes in Dubai to help them make a more informed decision before making a move here. The few South Africans that mentioned what they have experienced regarding crime, only did so to show that there are some places much worse off than Dubai for crime and to illustrate why some of them may have moved here. Thanks for the geography lesson, but trust me we know Dubai isn't Africa. The posts were not made for your pitty, but to make a point.

[jollyikarus]

Try this link....

http://www.7days.ae/local-news/rape-case-verdict.html

It shows readers' letters below the actual article.

A case of exceptionally poor justice in a country which is soo eager to impress the rest of the world with all its 'achievements'!

Ikarus

[Streamline]

But everything they can cover up they will.

Do they rape their own pilots and young children... YES...how...soon on www

[4PW's]

03Rnow30R, it may have been clearer if I'd said I despise the many criminals in SA, of whom even I, in my short stay last month, came across, and that in a five star hotel at breakfast!

I have nothing against South Africans per se, black or white.

I apologise if my poorly written post may have taken the focus, however briefly, off the issue at hand.

And what a sound response from 1972.

[03Rnow30R]

4PW's,

Thanks for that. It does make it clearer and if it helps, we despise the criminal element in SA too. We are proud of our very beautiful country that is being ruined by crime. Hope you have a better experience next time around, unfortunately you have to be alert to try to avoid nasty experiences.

Now back to the issue of the post. Can anybody remember any incidents of non-nationals being tried here for rape? If so, what the sentence was?

[ratpoison]

I overnight in Jo'berg, and feel it is without doubt the worst stopover I have ever made.

Geeeeeez mate, I think you need an overnight in Lagos to see the worst.

[naughty but nice]

I was under the impression this was a forum for people to express their opinions??no??
If all you want to read is people agreeing with one another then this is the wrong forum for you..If someones post winds you up that much then maybe you need a lie down.

Am I the only one to think it strange for girls or guys to accept 'lifts' from complete strangers?

Very odd behaviour.

The guy was probably some gay flighty who thought himself up for some 'action' with a few locals..Im sorry to say but these things happens when you go around acceoting lifts in the first place from people you do not know.

MY OPINION..THEIR OWN FAULT.