Woman in Saudi Arabia sentenced to 100 lashes for giving birth outside marriage
Summary
A Kenyan domestic worker in Saudi Arabia, Esther Wanja Muthoni, was reportedly sentenced to 100 lashes after giving birth outside marriage. Rights groups say women who give birth outside marriage face punishment and that the case became known after she went to a hospital, which reports such births to authorities.Key Facts
- Muthoni worked in Saudi Arabia as a housekeeper and nanny.
- She said she became pregnant during a brief relationship with an Egyptian man, who had since left Saudi Arabia.
- A court issued the sentence last month, according to the article.
- Muthoni told the New York Times she feared she could not endure the lashes.
- Saudi Arabia announced in April 2020 that it would end flogging for ta’zir offences, where judges have discretion over punishment; flogging remained possible for some other offences, according to ALQST.
- Rights advocate Ekaterina Porras Sivolobova said hospitals are required to report unmarried women who give birth, while many women give birth at home.
- A planned visit to Saudi Arabia by UN special rapporteur Reem Alsalem was postponed the week before the article was published.
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