[img]http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2011/03/26/1226028/679950-alicia-gali.jpg[/img]
Alicia Gali is warning other women to be cautious overseas. Picture: Jamie Hanson
Source: [url]http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/womans-jail-after-rape-at-le-meridien-al-aqah-beach-resort-unfortunate-says-starwood-hotels/story-e6frfq80-1226030219134[/url]
[release] Woman alleges resort failed in duty of care
Management says incident "unfortunate"
Says it provided support to jailed employee
OWNERS of a five-star United Arab Emirates hotel where an Australian woman says she was drugged and raped before being jailed for adultery, says staff safety is a priority.
The Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort is facing a lawsuit alleging it breached its workplace duty of care to Alicia Gali, 29, of Brisbane, who is seeking compensation from her former employer.
Ms Gali claims her drink was spiked and she was raped by three to four co-workers in June 2008, when she was working as a beauty salon manager at the international resort.
When she reported the assault to authorities, she was jailed on an adultery charge and spent eight months in prison because it is illegal in the UAE to have sex outside marriage.
Australian embassy staff advised her and her family not to go to the media during her time in custody, where she was locked in a cell with 30 other women.
She was pardoned and released in March 2009.
Trey Sarten, a spokesman for the international group Starwood Hotels which owns the resort, said the “safety and security of staff is a paramount priority''.
“The management of Le Meridien Al Aqah is aware of the unfortunate circumstances that occurred in June 2008 concerning Alicia Gali, a former employee of the hotel,'' he said in a statement.
Mr Sarten said hotel management had provided support and assistance to Ms Gali and her family during her imprisonment.
“Including assisting with medical support, arranging for financial support, assistance with the investigation, liaising with her representative embassy and arranging for her family to come to the UAE from Australia.
"As this matter is part of an open investigation, we cannot comment further at this time.''
Ms Gali alleges the hotel failed to protect staff against assault and the legal consequences of reporting the assault.
She also says the resort encouraged workers to drink illegally at its staff bar despite strict laws and the requirement of drinking permits.
“I thought I would be safe and protected in an international hotel group,'' she said in a statement.
“They didn't give me the correct advice and didn't help me when I was charged and imprisoned.''
Ms Gali said the harrowing ordeal should be a warning to others.
“I still feel angry and upset. It's distressing because I was a victim in all this and I was punished,'' she said.
“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.''
Her lawyer, Melissa Payne from Maurice Blackburn, said that Ms Gali suffered severe post-traumatic stress disorder, nightmares, flashbacks, depression and claustrophobia.
Ms Payne said the incident could have been avoided.
The hotel should have had segregated secure quarters for female employees and provide adequate induction training on the local laws and customs, she said.
“When she reported the assault to the human resources manager he did not advise her of the potential consequences of reporting that assault,'' she said.
“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.''
Hhe said the law firm was still preparing its case and would consult UAE legal experts, human rights and labour law experts.
“There was never a prosecution against anyone for sexual assault or rape,'' she said.
Ms Payne said her client had delayed the lawsuit until she had recovered psychologically.
“She now feels brave enough to speak out,'' she said.
“Alicia is very concerned that there are other women who might find themselves in similar situations,'' she said.
Ms Payne said it was likely the lawsuit would proceed in Queensland courts, but there was a possibility it could be heard in the UAE.
“This is a complex area of law, but we are exploring all options,'' she said.
She said the compensation amount had not yet been determined.[/release]
[quote]United Arab Emirates[/quote]
[B]Well, uh, there's yer problem.[/B]
[quote]drugged and raped before being jailed for adultery[/quote]
How the fuck are they allowed to do that?
Another reason why those countries need a serious re-work.
[QUOTE=Eluveitie;28870279]How the fuck are they allowed to do that?[/QUOTE]
Because for the islamic law women are roughly equal to animals. The Islamic law is fucking retarded, removing it only makes the world a better place.
damn shes pretty hot, im jealous
[highlight](User was banned for this post ("Shit reply" - Starpluck))[/highlight]
She looks horribly sad in the picture, I hope she's having an okay recovery. Islam has really ignorant laws, and this would be one of them.
You know, there is something similar to this in the Bible.
[quote=Bible]Deuteronomy 22:23-24: If within the city a man comes upon a maiden who is betrothed, and has relations with her, you shall bring them both out of the gate of the city and there stone them to death: the girl because she did not cry out for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbors wife.[/quote]
Ridiculously sad that practices like this from hundreds upon hundreds of years ago are still considered valid.
[QUOTE=Mr. Bleak;28870347]You know, there is something similar to this in the Bible.
Ridiculously sad that practices like this from hundreds upon hundreds of years ago are still considered valid.[/QUOTE]
As if the bible has any value to a person with average to above average intelligence.
Sadly, this is 0% of the people making laws.
[QUOTE=BuffaloBill;28870293]Because for the islamic law women are roughly equal to animals. [/QUOTE]
uh, no, lol. It's just how people interpret it.
[QUOTE=The LocalFlavor;28870540]uh, no, lol. It's just how people interpret it.[/QUOTE]
Isnt that the same?
(to all the disagree's)
In the way that want we interpret is probably what is happening.
[quote]Trey Sarten, a spokesman for the international group Starwood Hotels which owns the resort, said the “safety and security of staff is a paramount priority''.[/quote]
Heaven forbid should a woman try and have sex with one of your staff members
[QUOTE=taipan;28870572]Isnt that the same?[/QUOTE]
No. Fundamentalist Islam says that women should be treated equally. Extremists interpret it to mean that they are objects and not worthy of respect.
Or at least that's what my Modern History teacher told us and she's quite the expert on the Middle East and Islam.
I'd hit it. I'd put some roofies in her diet Coke and tap that.
[highlight](User was banned for this post ("Shit, unfunny reply" - Starpluck))[/highlight]
[QUOTE=Pretiacruento;28870634]I'd hit it. I'd put some roofies in her diet Coke and tap that.[/QUOTE]
why do people think rape is a joke
you're fuckin scum
[QUOTE=Pretiacruento;28870634]I'd hit it. I'd put some roofies in her diet Coke and tap that.[/QUOTE]
That's fucking disgusting. Diet Coke? Ughh...
[QUOTE=Roo-kie;28870655]why do people think rape is a joke
you're fuckin scum[/QUOTE]
Because its facepunch
[QUOTE=The LocalFlavor;28870540]uh, no, lol. It's just how people interpret it.[/QUOTE]
The Islamic Law as applied in those countries. Which is how they interpreted the Quran, yes.
[QUOTE=Roo-kie;28870655]why do people think rape is a joke
you're fuckin scum[/QUOTE]
Relax man... I was just kidding...
[editline]29th March 2011[/editline]
Jokes lighten the mood, y'know...
[QUOTE=Eluveitie;28870626]No. Fundamentalist Islam says that women should be treated equally. Extremists interpret it to mean that they are objects and not worthy of respect.
Or at least that's what my Modern History teacher told us and she's quite the expert on the Middle East and Islam.[/QUOTE]
Everyone is an expert. A chicken, if asked, would give it's expert opinion on how it should be stuffed full of worms daily.
What qualifications does she have
[QUOTE=BuffaloBill;28870783]The Islamic Law as applied in those countries. Which is how they interpreted the Quran, yes.[/QUOTE]
no where in the Quran does it condone this.
I'm not quite sure how Islamic woman put up with this.
[QUOTE=Elstumpo;28871030]I'm not quite sure how Islamic woman put up with this.[/QUOTE]
Because not all male Muslims are rapists who get away with rape?
[QUOTE=BuffaloBill;28870293]Because for the islamic law women are roughly equal to animals. The Islamic law is fucking retarded, removing it only makes the world a better place.[/QUOTE]
Oh god yes! THIS! I hate the religion and its bullcrap, not its people.
[QUOTE=J!NX;28871056]Oh god yes! THIS! I hate the religion and its bullcrap, not its people.[/QUOTE]
lol, removing religion will do nothing.
[QUOTE=The LocalFlavor;28871068]lol, removing religion will do nothing.[/QUOTE]
so you are saying their race is the cause of this?
[editline]29th March 2011[/editline]
Plenty of normal people from the Middle East around here that have adapted well to western society.
[QUOTE=The LocalFlavor;28871068]lol, removing religion will do nothing.[/QUOTE]
True, but encourage more people to not follow blindly, which is something big even still. Don't stop mass amounts of backwards dipshits.
[QUOTE=taipan;28871095]so you are saying their race is the cause of this?
[editline]29th March 2011[/editline]
Plenty of normal people from the Middle East around here that have adapted well to western society.[/QUOTE]
So? They're still Muslim. People seem to think ALL the worlds problems are the result of religion and making it illegal will bring instant world peace.
[editline]29th March 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=J!NX;28871104]True, but encourage more people to not follow blindly, which is something big even still. Don't stop mass amounts of backwards dipshits.[/QUOTE]
You'll have your extremists in anything.
[QUOTE=The LocalFlavor;28871107]So? They're still Muslim. People seem to think ALL the worlds problems are the result of religion and making it illegal will bring instant world peace.
[editline]29th March 2011[/editline]
You'll have your extremists in anything.[/QUOTE]
Religion will seperate people, removing that makes religious seperation IMPOSSIBLE. I don't care how big or small that is, it affects the world a lot.
[QUOTE=The LocalFlavor;28870873]no where in the Quran does it condone this.[/QUOTE]
No, it doesn't, that's how they interpreted it and present it as the Islamic Law. I did not say the Quran condones it.
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