UAE: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY STONING IN ABU DHABI

May 4, 2014: An Abu Dhabi criminal court sentenced an Asian housemaid to death by stoning after she was found guilty of committing adultery while married. The housemaid was accused of sleeping with a man who wasn’t her husband. The complaint was brought to police attention after the maid was rushed to hospital with abdominal pains. Tests revealed that she was around seven months pregnant. It was reported that the woman pleaded guilty in court, admitting that the child she was carrying was as a result of an affair outside wedlock. According to local newspaper reports, the judge ruled that she would be put to death by stoning in line with Sharia law. It was the first time in many years that a person was sentenced to stoning to death in such a case in the UAE. Judicial sources said the maid could appeal the sentence before the Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi. Details of her fellow adulterer were not been released, but according to the law he too could be tried for adultery. It was not reported whether he was also married or whether he had been arrested. (Sources: Emirates 247, 04/05/2014)