Expat survives rape attempt in the middle of the desert

A 29-year-old Filipina has alleged that a Bahraini Defence Force employee  attempted to rape her in the middle of the desert, in the presence of his friends.

According to her, the incident occurred on Wednesday night. 

She claimed that she fought hard and managed to prevent the man from raping her, but was brutally assaulted and left bleeding with multiple scars and bruises. 

She narrated the traumatic incident to DT News. According to her, she knew the attacker for almost a year,  but they rarely used to meet or communicate. 

“That night, out of the blue, he called and informed that an old mutual friend is visiting from Saudi Arabia and that they’re planning a gathering at Sakhir camping area, where the celebrations of the National Day are being held,” she narrated.

The victim, who works as a beautician at a private centre, said she wasn’t feeling comfortable when she reached the camp in the middle of nowhere, as she was the only woman in the group (which included the attacker and his two friends)

“I sensed trouble when the three friends, including the one from Saudi Arabia, sneaked out of the camp one after the other, leaving me alone with him. When I was about to leave the tent, he caught hold of me and locked the entrance. Being trapped with him, I used all my powers to push him aside trying to force myself out,” the woman recalled, adding that the attacker was under the influence of alcohol.

She alleged that he tried to strip her clothes by pulling her jacket. 

“Hearing my screaming, his friends came inside, but then he started assaulting me. He kicked me and pulled me by hair, while his friends just watched. I gathered all my power and slapped, kicked and scratched him several times. But this apparently made him more angry,” she said. 

The victim claimed that at that point, the man aggressively grabbed her by her hair, punched her in the face, and when she lost her balance and fell on the floor, he repetitively stomped and kicked her all over her body, causing several bruises on her head, neck, back and ribs.

“From the floor, I could only see his shoe sole repeatedly stomping my face and head. All of this happened in front of his friends. I thought I was going to die there. Finally, his friends came forward and pulled him away from me. When I reached for my phone to call for assistance, he told me that the police won’t do anything to him and that I would be in trouble if I inform anyone. He said all this while repeatedly shouting that he would kill me,” she said.

Soaked in tears, blood and dust, the woman was taken inside the car by the person who came from Saudi Arabia.

She told DT News that the mutual friend apologised for the attacker’s behaviour, justifying that he was drunk. She claimed she couldn’t make any phone calls as she was threatened that she would be killed if she did so.

The woman, who worked as a nurse for the past few years, said she asked them  to take her to a hospital, but they ignored her. 

“Instead, they stopped by a pharmacy and got me some bandage and ointments and dropped me back at home. They also threatened me not to inform anyone about what happened” she explained.

Guilt kicks-in, case reported

The woman said she was traumatised by what had just happened to her and stayed alone shivering in her room for hours.

She said the attacker later sent many apology messages on her cellphone. But, she decided to report the incident to the police and file a case against him. With the help of a friend, she was also able to go to Salmaniya Medical Complex Accident and Emergency Department, where she received treatment and was monitored for three hours before being discharged.

However, she added that the man is continuingly calling her, even after the case was filed; yet she never answered any of his calls.

“I’m worried he might come looking for me, especially as he knows where I live. He was trying to kill me there in the desert, and he remains free. What if he gets drunk again and comes to finish what he started,” the woman expressed her worries.

Full support from sponsor

After informing her sponsor the next day, the woman was assured that she would be fully supported and an attorney would be appointed to continue the legal procedures if needed.