Help pours in for Bahraini rape victim

Manama : A Bahraini rape victim who has issued a tearful plea for help to assist her in bringing her attackers to justice was reached out by several lawyers soon after her message went viral online.

The incident, according to the mother of two, occurred when she went for a job interview in an office in Manama. The rapist, she said, also offered her BD10,000 to keep quiet. Undeterred by the disaster, the woman went ahead and pressed charges against the man. 

Soon after, the victim claimed, she was approached by the rapist’s lawyer offering to double the amount to withdraw her complaint and close the case, according to the message doing rounds on social media. 

The incident, garnered public attention, when the woman, in her twenties, reached out to a Bahraini social activist Saleh Al Khenna to help her find an attorney as “she is incapable of paying the fees”.

When approached, Al Khenna confirmed to DT News that at least five attorneys contacted him yesterday offering to help the woman free of charge.

One of the attorneys, the founder of Love and Peace Society and Bahrain’s Prisoners and Detainees Rights Commission Member Attiyatallah Rohani, confirmed the incident to DT News. 

He described the incident as “a truly outrageous act” without revealing more details.

Sharing more about the case, Al Khenna told DT News, “This incident happened at a tourism services office in Manama.”

The unsuspecting woman apparently went there after finding an advertisement posted by the office which said it has a vacancy for a Bahraini female. 

“The woman, who lives in tough financial situations, applied for the job and was called for a personal interview.”

“She said that she was welcomed at the entrance by a Bahraini male employee, who asked her to go upstairs for a meeting and locked the door behind him. 

“Although the man’s behaviour seemed suspicious, the victim blindly walked upstairs as told. 

“There, the same man pushed her, beat her and raped her in the empty office. 

“She said that the rapist offered her money to not disclose the matter. Bleeding, the woman walked to the nearby Bab Al Bahrain Police Station and complained against the man. 

“She said that she suffered from temporary paralysis as a result of the attack. The man was soon arrested and is still in police custody. He offered to pay her BD10, 000 so she would drop the case, but she rejected,” Al Khenna told.

The woman has been interrogated by the Public Prosecution and first hearing would be held by next week.