Marte Deborah Dalelv, a Norwegian woman at the center of a controversial Dubai rape claim dispute, has been pardoned and is free to leave the country.
“I am very, very happy,” Dalelv said. “I am overjoyed.”
The imprisonment of Dalelv, 24, sparked outrage and highlighted the incongruence of Dubai’s Western-friendly image and its Islamic-based legal codes.
Dalelv, who worked for Wissam Al Mana‘s company, said she was raped by a co-worker, but was charged with having sex outside marriage after alerting police.
That’s against the law in Dubai, regardless of whether the person is married or not. She was given 16 months in jail for this alleged transgression.
Her decision to go public about the sentence last week in a series of interviews appeared to put heat on authorities in Dubai and tarnish the city’s reputation.
As pressure mounted, she was cut loose.
“I have my passport back. I have been pardoned,” said Dalelv, who worked for an interior design firm in Qatar when the alleged rape took place.
There was no immediate word from Dubai officials, including whether the pardon was linked to traditions of clemency during the holy month of Ramadan.
It also was unclear whether authorities would keep the 13-month sentence against Dalelv’s alleged attacker, identified as a 33-year-old Sudanese man.
He was charged with consuming alcohol and sex outside marriage.
In any case, “I have my life back,” said Dalelv. “This is a great day.”
Back in Norway, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide posted a Twitter message: “Marte is released! Thanks to everyone who signed up to help.”