He Raped, She was Sentenced to Death! [Archives:2001/07/Focus]

by Mohamed Kadri
W ait a minute! I have a true story to tell. I assure you that it will whiten your hair. This is just one story from among many other similar ones that are not often published, but rather kept in closed drawers, ignored, left behind, in the hope that no one would reveal them to the public. But here comes my chance to do so, to you!

There was a woman who had been known in the neighborhood since her very early childhood as pretty. She had lived in a suburb near Taiz City. She was a happily married lady, with nothing but a clean and good record as a citizen and a wife.

One day, her husband had to stay out at work for the night, leaving her alone all by herself in her small house. Just a few minutes past midnight, a drunken military officer, full of lust and dirty desires knocked the door of the house. Once she realized it was not her husband’s voice, she obviously did not open the door, but her wise decision was not enough to avoid a catastrophe. The officer broke into the house carrying his alcoholic drink and immediately tried to rape the poor woman. For a minute, she was able to escape the man who followed her into the kitchen to satisfy his lust. Thinking about her lost pride and feeling the frustration, pain and anger, the woman grabbed a knife from the kitchen, and stabbed the man to death.

In a few days, the woman found herself being accused of manslaughter. However, the court realized that she was only defending herself, and hence she was acquitted.

Despite the fact that all evidence was in favor of the woman’s innocence, the relatives of the military officer appealed the verdict and reopened the file of the woman. Behind the scenes, the relatives saw little hope in winning the case, so they offered two million rials to the judge to rule in their favor. The judge smiled and simply said, “Your amount is not enough for a single plunge into hellfire.” The relatives had to raise the bribe to eight millions until the judge was finally satisfied. Miraculously, with the use of money, the case was turned upside down, and the woman was finally sentenced to death!

Then came the moment when she was about to be executed, by gunfire in a public area. She swore to her husband and the gathering crowd that she was innocent. Her voice filled the sky, just moments before her blood filled the grassy ground.

Nothing could be done, no one knew her real story, and no one felt sympathy towards her; But no doubt, the truth that was concealed that day will eventually be known. Indeed, judgement day will clarify everything!

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