AFP/Dubai
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A Norwegian woman said yesterday that she was “nervous and tense” as she risked 16 months in jail after she reported being raped by a co-worker in the UAE.
Marte Dalelv, 24, said she remained hopeful that she would succeed in an appeal against the ruling by a Dubai court that convicted her this week of extramarital sex, perjury and consuming alcohol without a licence.
“I am very nervous and tense. But I hope for the best and I take one day at a time. I just have to get through this,” she told AFP by telephone from Dubai.
Calling the sentence “very harsh”, she said she immediately filed an appeal, adding a new hearing is scheduled for September 5.
Dalelv reported the rape to police in the UAE in March this year and was immediately detained, being released four days later with the assistance of Norwegian diplomats.
Dalelv, who has been staying at the Norwegian Seamen’s Church in Dubai for the past several months, emphasised she did not want to criticise the UAE government.
“They have their legal system. I just want to get fair treatment,” she said.
Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide was trying to reach his counterpart in the UAE yesterday about the case, Norwegian news agency NTB reported.
According to Kathrine Raadim, the foreign minister’s political adviser, it is out of the question for Norway to react by recalling its ambassador to the UAE.
“We would risk worsening Dalelv’s situation in the midst of her appeal. I think everyone is better off with Norway having a diplomatic presence there,” she told NTB.
The Norwegian opposition, however, demanded more robust action by the government.
“The least the Norwegian authorities can do is to let her stay at the embassy in Abu Dhabi, where she cannot be apprehended,” said Per Willy Amundsen, a parliamentarian from the conservative Progress Party.
Dalelv herself told AFP she would prefer to stay in Dubai rather than moving to Abu Dhabi.
