A Mexican girl serving to arrange the World Cup in Qatar says authorities threatened her with jail and a whipping after she reported she was sexually assaulted.

Paola Schietekat made the accusations in opposition to regulation enforcement within the autocratic Center Jap monarchy because it prepares to develop into the primary Arab nation to host the world's premier soccer occasion in 2022.

A behavioral economist, Schietekat described her expertise in June of final 12 months in an article printed on the web site of Mexican journalist Julio Astillero. She characterised Qatar's authorized system and authorities as being extra enthusiastic about defending the person she accused of sexually assaulting her.

Whereas working for the committee answerable for organizing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar's capital metropolis of Doha, Schietekat stated an acquaintance from the native Latino neighborhood entered her condo and assaulted her, leaving her left arm, shoulder and again coated in bruises.

View of Doha
This image exhibits a partial view of the Qatari capital from the Doha corniche, on February 3, 2022. A Mexican girl has accused Qatari authorities of threatening her with imprisonment and a whipping after she reported a sexual assault. KARIM JAAFAR

Schietekat stated she obtained a medical certificates and reported the incident to native police with the Mexican consul in Qatar. After explaining the state of affairs to police in her restricted Arabic, she signed a press release and left, in accordance with Schietekat. At 9 p.m., she was referred to as again to the police, the place she stated they offered her with the alleged assailant.

"It was three hours of interrogation in Arabic, and at a sure level they demanded a virginity take a look at," Schietekat wrote. "For some motive I had develop into the accused."

Her alleged assailant informed police the 2 had a romantic relationship and police demanded she hand over her unlocked cellphone, in accordance with Schietekat. From there, Schietekat stated the case centered round the opportunity of extramarital affair, which she stated will be punished in Qatar by as much as seven years in jail and probably 100 lashes.

Her lawyer, she stated, provided her a easy answer to shut the case: marry her attacker.

However with the help of the World Cup organizing committee, Schietekat stated she was in a position to depart the nation.

"I had by no means breathed with extra reduction than when my passport was stamped," wrote Schietekat. "In Mexico the adrenaline stopped and a slower course of started, though simply as advanced and painful."

Regardless of efficiently fleeing Qatar, Schietekat described her confusion and "disappointment of not having foreseen that the case may very well be turned in opposition to me, as a result of we reside in a world that appears to hate girls."

After receiving Qatari court docket filings, she discovered her assailant was acquitted of the costs despite the fact that she offered a medical report.

She wrote that there are "two elementary and systemic failures that led to this case."

The primary, she stated, is how the worldwide neighborhood "has excused and even defended archaic monarchies," corresponding to Qatar, regardless of having information of violating human rights and legal guidelines that severely prohibit the rights of girls.

A detailed ally of the U.S., Qatar has been criticized by advocacy teams corresponding to Human Rights Watch for its exploitative labor system and discrimination in opposition to girls and sexual minorities.

"With out a agency stance on the a part of the worldwide neighborhood, draconian, retrograde and even absurd legal guidelines will discover a bit gap to proceed justifying themselves, within the shadow of main sporting or cultural occasions," wrote Schietekat.

Secondly, she faulted the Mexican Overseas Service for failing to face up for her, which she stated leaves the 600 Mexicans residing in Qatar weak.

Since publishing her account, Mexican authorities have made an try to handle Schietekat's state of affairs.

Mexican Overseas Secretary Marcelo Ebrard tweeted on Friday that he had met with Schietekat and will likely be offering her with authorized illustration "guaranteeing that every one her rights as a Mexican citizen are revered." Schietekat retweeted Ebrard's tweet.

Newsweek has reached out to Schietekat, the Mexican Overseas Ministry and Qatar's U.S. Embassy for remark.