Post by MacBeth on Jun 6, 2011 8:23:16 GMT -5
A Brisbane woman who claims to have been drugged and raped by co-workers in Dubai plans to sue the Commonwealth of Australia after she was jailed for adultery.
Alicia Gali, 29, has already been granted leave to sue the Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, alleging her employer breached its workplace obligations by failing to have systems in place to protect workers against assault.
But on Tuesday, Ms Gali will seek leave to sue the Commonwealth in the Brisbane Supreme Court, claiming a consular official failed to warn her that a complaint of rape in Dubai could lead to her being jailed.
Ms Gali spent eight months in a Dubai prison after the alleged assault by three co-workers while drinking at the resort bar in June 2008.
In the UAE it is illegal to have sex outside marriage.
In a statement from Ms Gali's lawyers, Maurice Blackburn, principal Michelle James said her client had told an Australian consular official she did not know whether to go to hospital after being drugged and raped.
The female officer allegedly told Ms Gali that she could face a life sentence if drugs were found in her system.
However, Ms Gali claims the officer neglected to warn her that a complaint of rape could cause her to be charged for adultery.
Ms James said the firm was taking the step of suing the Commonwealth to protect Ms Gali's legal options.
"Maurice Blackburn is still pursuing a claim against her employer Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah, which is part of the international Starwood group of hotels," she said.
Management of the resort have claimed to have supported Ms Gali following the incident.
In a previous statement, Ms Gali said she wanted to warn other women about the danger of working in countries where laws were "archaic".
"I still feel angry and upset and it's distressing because I was a victim in all of this and I was punished – the laws have to change to protect women and give them rights and the Australian government should use its influence to push for changes to laws," the statement read.
"The UAE is being promoted hugely here as a tourism destination.
"They are not complying with human rights, women's rights and migrant workers' rights."
www.smh.com.au/world/jailed-rape-victim-seeks-to-sue-commonwealth-20110605-1fnc6.html
Alicia Gali, 29, has already been granted leave to sue the Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, alleging her employer breached its workplace obligations by failing to have systems in place to protect workers against assault.
But on Tuesday, Ms Gali will seek leave to sue the Commonwealth in the Brisbane Supreme Court, claiming a consular official failed to warn her that a complaint of rape in Dubai could lead to her being jailed.
Ms Gali spent eight months in a Dubai prison after the alleged assault by three co-workers while drinking at the resort bar in June 2008.
In the UAE it is illegal to have sex outside marriage.
In a statement from Ms Gali's lawyers, Maurice Blackburn, principal Michelle James said her client had told an Australian consular official she did not know whether to go to hospital after being drugged and raped.
The female officer allegedly told Ms Gali that she could face a life sentence if drugs were found in her system.
However, Ms Gali claims the officer neglected to warn her that a complaint of rape could cause her to be charged for adultery.
Ms James said the firm was taking the step of suing the Commonwealth to protect Ms Gali's legal options.
"Maurice Blackburn is still pursuing a claim against her employer Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah, which is part of the international Starwood group of hotels," she said.
Management of the resort have claimed to have supported Ms Gali following the incident.
In a previous statement, Ms Gali said she wanted to warn other women about the danger of working in countries where laws were "archaic".
"I still feel angry and upset and it's distressing because I was a victim in all of this and I was punished – the laws have to change to protect women and give them rights and the Australian government should use its influence to push for changes to laws," the statement read.
"The UAE is being promoted hugely here as a tourism destination.
"They are not complying with human rights, women's rights and migrant workers' rights."
www.smh.com.au/world/jailed-rape-victim-seeks-to-sue-commonwealth-20110605-1fnc6.html