Qatar Convicts Dutch Woman Who Reported Rape But Will Let Her Return Home

If you are a woman vacationing Qatar, use knowledge of “Laura” as a cautionary tale.

The 22-year-old Dutch woman had an unpleasant experience this past March she won’t soon forget. While having a drink with a man in an upscale hotel in Doha where alcohol is permitted, she felt unwell after taking the first sip. The next thing she remembers is waking up in a strange apartment the next morning realizing she had been raped. From one perspective, this was not the most horrific aspect of the story. After she reported the drugging and rape incident to Qatari authorities, it was she that was detained in prison. What saved her? An eruption on social media and in the Dutch press over...