World

What Happened to the Libyan Woman Who Claimed Gadhafi Forces Raped Her?

  • “The accuser has now become the accused” according to a government official
  • Gadhafi government labels her a drunk, a prostitute, and a thief
  • Parents say she’s a lawyer, pursuing a post-graduate degree
  • Her parents claim she is being held by Gadhafi forces at a compound

Remember Iman al-Obeidi, the Libyan woman who burst into a Tripoli hotel to tell foreign journalists how she was gang raped by Moammar Gadhafi’s troops? Whose shocking account of being raped, tortured, defecated on by these men was cut short by government minders who dragged her out of the hotel, put a bag on her head, and took her away somewhere?

What Happened to the Libyan Woman Who Claimed Gadhafi Forces Raped Her?

Well, her grim saga continues. She will now face criminal charges, a government spokesman said on Tuesday. “The accuser has now become the accused,” he darkly observed.

You can watch the hotel altercation here:

The spokesman, Moussa Ibrahim, said the men accused by Iman al-Obeidi are now suing her. A son of a high ranking Libyan official was among those she claimed had raped her, he said.

“The boys she accused are bringing a case against her because it’s a very grave offense to accuse someone of a sexual crime,” Ibrahim told reporters in the Libyan capital.

Al-Obeidi made headlines when she rushed distraught into Tripoli’s Rixos Hotel on Saturday, seeking to speak to foreign media. She claimed she was detained by a number of Gadhafi troops at a Tripoli checkpoint on Wednesday. She said they were drinking whiskey and handcuffed her, and that 15 men later raped her.

What Happened to the Libyan Woman Who Claimed Gadhafi Forces Raped Her?

Al-Obeidi’s claim could not be independently verified. The Associated Press only identifies rape victims who volunteer their names.

As she started to tell her story, al-Obeidi was tackled by waitresses and government minders and dragged away from the hotel, and has since been missing. Her parents claim she is held hostage at Gadhafi’s compound in the Libyan capital.

Libyan authorities have alternately labeled al-Obeidi a drunk, a prostitute and a thief.

Ibrahim on Tuesday refused to discuss al-Obeidi’s whereabouts. But in an interview with the AP on Sunday, he had said she was with her sister in the Libyan capital. He also said at the time that police have a file on al-Obeidi for prostitution and petty theft.

What Happened to the Libyan Woman Who Claimed Gadhafi Forces Raped Her?

However, al-Obeidi’s parents told satellite Al-Jazeera Television on Monday that their daughter is a lawyer now pursuing a post-graduate degree. You can watch a clip of that video below.

The mother said she received a phone call Monday from an unidentified caller, purportedly from the Gadhafi camp, telling her al-Obeidi is held at the Tripoli compound and asking her to instruct her daughter to change the rape claim in return for freedom and other benefits such as cash or a new house.

The parents lauded their daughter’s courage in stepping forward about her ordeal. It was unclear where they spoke from and Al-Jazeera did not provide their names.

The London-based Amnesty International said Monday that al-Obeidi’s account was “stomach-churning“ and called on Libyan authorities to launch ”an independent and impartial investigation” into the case, reveal al-Obeidi’s whereabouts and set her free.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Comments (75)

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  • kattewyk
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:00pm

    Where is Lara Logan, CBS and the outrage, why the silence from the so called MSM?

    Report Post » kattewyk  
  • IsleOracle
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:42pm

    Iman al-Obeidi is anathema to her people now.
    Despite being the victum, she is now labeled a prostitute in the eyes of her fellow believers – Muslims.
    This is to protect the “honor” of the men (and their families) who raped her.
    Women have only one purpose in the Muslim world – submission to men and Ala.
    All she was is now gone in her land, family (appears her father is deceased), and faith.
    How long will Muslim women submit to this tragic way of life?
    There may be a revolution underway in the Muslim countries but, will the women be advanced as equals in it?
    This is a case study for converting away from the Muslim faith to any other respecting religion…. or none.
    I’ll pray to my Christian God for the freedom and protection this woman has a human right to.

    ExpertShot – I’m with you. I would have given them punch for punch and found something heavy to hit with.
    Just the way I was brought up I guess – think of her as your Mom, Sister, Wife, or Child instead of an unknown.

    Report Post » IsleOracle  
    • libertylady2
      Posted on March 30, 2011 at 7:25am

      I think you’re on to something here. Forget the rebels, ARM THE WOMEN OF THE MIDDLE EAST!! Support their repressed rage and empower them to fight! A few million Sarah Connor’s and this crap is over in a week.

      Btw: I think this women may actually have a better chance of staying alive because of the worldwide attention she has brought on. She is to be highly commended for her great courage. Praise Jesus.

      Report Post » libertylady2  
    • libertylady2
      Posted on March 30, 2011 at 7:31am

      I think you may be on to something here. Forget the rebels, LET’S ARM THE WOMEN OF THE MIDDLE EAST!! Support their repressed rage with some ammo, thus creating a few million Sarah Connor’s, and this crap is over in a week!

      BTW, this women may have saved her own life by drawing international attention this OBVIOUS atrocity. Pray for her continued, unbelievable courage. And the mockers can go to hell.

      Report Post » libertylady2  
    • emh99
      Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:04pm

      @isleoracle – completely agree with you. WAKE UP AMERICA. These pigs want to come here, take our country, and do the same crap to your women & children they do to theirs. STOP THEM NOW!

      Report Post »  
  • Wilma
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:16pm

    There is no evidence to suggest these Muslims are radicalized. So how would the women on The View defend the position this poor woman is now in?

    Report Post » Wilma  
  • peaceuntou
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:12pm

    What exactly is NOW.?. Aparently they are another club for women but really do they do anything with intestinal fortitude.

    Report Post »  
  • ChuckJ
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:00pm

    The religion of peace. I wonder how far the women’s movement would get with the religion of peace.

    Report Post »  
  • pwatkins
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:00pm

    Obama will say nothing bc it would be going against his Muslim brothers. The only way he would even bring it up, or allow it brought up is if he thought it would help him politically. He could care less if only we bigots show concern, right? My prayers go out to this woman and all others bc I am sure there have been more. Just look what the same kind of evil scum did to the reporter.

    Report Post »  
  • ASIAGULLA
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:45pm

    Women get raped in Libya or any other moslem country what is the difference. Women don’t have rights or freedom.The only reason we heard about this case…Libya is at war and Al Jaseera or foreign journalists are everywhere to cover atrocities. In time of peace you’re not free to talk to anyone, so just consider yourself a slave…because from this day on, the guy who rape you is your master…..which means under sharia law,you could either be punished for lying or stoned to death as an adulterer.

    Report Post »  
  • psycodad36
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:43pm

    May god bless her telling us all ,And may god bless her soul.for unfortunately I believe she may be with him already

    Report Post »  
  • raspberrytea
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:32pm

    Some humans aren’t human!! You open up their hearts and
    you’ll find “ nothing”.

    Report Post »  
  • varptr
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:19pm

    Still totally irrelevant. Sex crimes have no social “home” or political party. Will they be manipulated and will both sides lie passionately? “Did the little Piggy Call Wee Wee Wee all the way home?”, “Do woodchucks chuck wood”, “Is Obama a middleeast terrorist?” Wheeee! Weeeee! Weeeeeeeee!

    Report Post » varptr  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:11pm

    God Bless the poor Muslim women who have spent eternity being treated less than a dog. God please curse the rapist, as well at those people with a pulpit to help fix this situation but remain silent like the human debris at N.O.W. and in the White House.

    Report Post »  
  • raspberrytea
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:08pm

    I was hoping that the journalists would do more also.
    Surely they could have done more. She
    seemed so broken after they brought her
    back out and put her into the car. There’s
    no telling what they did to her in that room.

    Report Post »  
    • The Original Grand Torino
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:09pm

      I heard one of the male journalists got beat up and you can see a western female journalist or the “white lady” trying to come to her aid, those guys who dragged her away were very formidable.

      It’s hard to think more could have been done.But I sympathize.

      Report Post » The Original Grand Torino  
  • cnerd
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:06pm

    Sadly. I fear her story will mysteriously die………with her

    Report Post » cnerd  
  • jim
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:05pm

    Her “neighbors” are in fact assaulting her every time she opens her mouth on camera… the coffee shop… outside in a crowd… no doubt she’s been stoned and beheaded by now. That’s 7th century street justice for you. Savages… with oil.

    Report Post » jim  
  • caprica
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:48pm

    this is the muslim world law…..rape women, stone women, kill people for speaking out ! kill their family and this president stands with them all……..

    Report Post »  
  • caprica
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:46pm

    I like to know what hillary clinton has to say about that…she is with the mop now …..with the lies and the terror …..this administraiton that is arming the savages and the terrorist – they call them Lybian rebels now ….they are the muslim brotherhood and al-kaida ! terrorists….hillary you are so powerful – then stand up for that raped woman

    Report Post »  
  • raspberrytea
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:30pm

    I believe she is telling the truth. My heart goes out to her.

    Report Post »  
    • OhSuzieQ
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:46pm

      @Raspberrytea

      I also believe her!!

      Report Post » OhSuzieQ  
    • ExpertShot
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:48pm

      What I don’t understand is how the “brave journalists” who will go out & report from the front lines….didn’t step in & stop her from being taken…I’m female, but I would have at least tried to stop it…probably would have started an internationl incident but doing the right thing is more important. It seems as if conservative women are more concerned about the way women are treated than the ultra progressive lefties who claim to advocate for the “rights” of women. Behar & all those hags should be ashamed.

      Report Post » ExpertShot  
    • varptr
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:32pm

      In response to expertshot, being in the midst of an unstable situation it is difficult to know whether you are being manipulated or are in danger. Being grabbed by a mob is the most helpless feeling in the world. My father used to say if you hear a disturbance, look the other way, you may be in danger. That observation has saved my hide a couple of times but this is such a mess. Obviously forces from both sides were present, in what ratio we don’t know. And she could have been a plant or could have blamed elements on either side. Now it “seems” like she was being honest. But the one thing you can be sure of, like young GI’s accused in foreign countries of rape, this is not something any government or agency wants to be responsible for or have on their record.

      Report Post » varptr  
    • Wilma
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:23pm

      @expertshot. I was thinking the same thing. Those reporters were pansies. I would have been right in there swinging with you.

      Report Post » Wilma  
    • Bluebonnet
      Posted on March 30, 2011 at 11:07am

      @expertshot: The VIEW is so disgusting. How can any woman watch this drivel? That Bayhar is the pit of hell in my opinion. Used to have 1/2 & 1/2 thoughts about Woopie, but after she left the stage with the pitof hell, I’ve had little use for her and some of her arguments. No, I don’t watch the show, but clips are shown on TV all the time. The poor women in those God forsaken countries. Hope this woman takes the bribe and leaves the country to write a book about the unGodly laws practiced against women in particular.

      Report Post »  
  • searching for the Truth
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 5:50pm

    Just Kidding!

    Report Post »  
  • searching for the Truth
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 5:41pm

    Mr. Beck: Since you say you have some Muslim friends, maybe you could talk them into starting a company called Imam Insurance. That way when they take over the world, people could possible pay tribute instead of having their heads lobed off. And, still your friends could participate without being violent.

    Report Post »  
  • pinnybogg
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 5:35pm

    United States won’t do a thing to help her, after all we are helping Libyans and the REBELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
    • godlovinmom
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:36pm

      do you know how to tell the difference between ghadafi’s soldiers and the “freedom” fighters of lybia…their uniforms!

      Report Post » godlovinmom  
  • RN MOM
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 5:30pm

    We all know where this is going. Without 4 men to confirm her account she will end up being stoned to death. Which 4 men of the 15 will come forward? None of them because those men have no respect for women and no conscience about sentencing her to a certain death.

    How come she wasn’t brought to a doctor and given a rape exam using a rape kit? even though they can’t isolate the DNA of 15 different men- they certainly could have gathered evidence that concluded she was raped.

    Nah, instead they hid her for a few days until; the evidence was gone. There is a special place in hell for those bastards.

    Report Post » RN MOM  
    • Showtime
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 5:33pm

      Didn’t she say (in the earlier story) that she had raised her skirt to show her bruised and bloody legs?

      Report Post » Showtime  
  • Showtime
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 5:18pm

    What else could be expected from the Mad Dog’s regime? Slander her to keep from getting caught. It doesn’t look like she left of her own free will.

    Report Post » Showtime  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 5:17pm

    hopefully the lady is still alive and the USA can free her

    Report Post » BurntHills  
    • LetUsReason
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:30pm

      Obama is not interested in freeing people. Ironically, he’s interested in enslaving them.

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 5:17pm

    God help her now, she will soon either be freed or executed by those thugs of Quaddafi’s.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • AmericanStrega
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:29pm

      Snow, I fear that this poor woman is dead. I’ll pray for her and her family (I don’t care what their religion is, they need all the prayers they can get). The thing that really bothers me is the progressive women in America that support the ideals of the animals that did this to this woman, and many others. Hey, and not just women, they hate anyone or anything that doesn’t bowdown to their ways. I’m so angry that OUR America is seeming to go along with this crap. When will people understand that what is happening “over there” is most likely going to start happening over here (U.S.A.)? This reply is not to argue with any of your posts or to sound like a troll. I just respect your point of view and am venting to someone I think may have a good word to help me stop being so angry at the turn OUR country has taken. You seem to be a good person and a true American. Also, I hope you and your kitty are staying cool in the hell of the weather that AZ offers. Cheers.

      Report Post »  
    • OhSuzieQ
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:43pm

      I sure hope the Nitwits on the View see this!

      Report Post » OhSuzieQ  
    • Caniac Steve
      Posted on March 30, 2011 at 12:07am

      sad to say she reminds me of a case like this in pakistan,thje woman was executed for being an adulturer…so with that sadly in mind…why would this case be any different…and here in the USA we have judges in some areas of america having the gall to try and use mediation type of solutions using sharia law ?? Sp Much for America beinmg a nation of laws based soole on the US Consitituion …

      Report Post » Caniac Steve  
  • Showtime
    Posted on March 29, 2011 at 5:16pm

    I thought I would catch someone not watching Glenn Beck, but I guess not.!

    Report Post » Showtime  
    • Revere1
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 5:29pm

      Maybe. :) Regarding the article, I doubt we’ll hear any outcry from American feminists who claim to care about women: http://www.battlefield315.com/2011/02/feminism-explained.html They’ve always cast a blind eye to anti-feminist policies of Middle Eastern countries.

      Report Post » Revere1  
    • chirodoc007
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 5:33pm

      This is the way that rape chages are handled under Sharia. Unless she has 4 male witnesses to confirm her charge she will either be punished for lying about a fellow Muslim or she’ll be executed as an adulterer.

      It’s a wonderful and loving sytem:-(

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 5:44pm

      Showtime:

      No cable or TV here, will watch it on the Watchglennbeck.com websight when it posts tonight in a couple of hours. Had some fun, outside the part of the building I live in the progressive dingbats here were singing a chant of “Communist USA” to what I think was the old YMCA Village People song.

      Seems some tubs of dishwater got tossed over the side onto them – very cold water.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:07pm

      She will be treated , just like Paula Jones , Monica Lewinsky, Jennifer Flowers, Elizabeth Gracen. , were by DEMOCRATS,and the MSM, to cover for BJ Clinton. No deviation from the party line is permissible
      Fairwinds

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • TexasCommonSense
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:18pm

      Things will be SO much better there once The Muslim Brotherhood takes control.

      Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:20pm

      Always interesting to watch things like this unfold. Which party has more credibility, the Libyan government flunk keys or this woman? Which scenario was more likely, she was trying to frame someone or she was raped at a checkpoint? Oh, and I’m not holding my breath until NOW checks in, or many of the progressive womens groups.

      I will, however, be praying for this woman, that she will manage to escape with her life and be able to start a life somewhere else where she is relatively safe.

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
    • 1959
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:28pm

      God bless this poor woman. One can only imagine the sheer hell she has been through and what lies ahead for her.

      Report Post »  
    • GBMBulletsSKNRD
      Posted on March 29, 2011 at 6:41pm

      My guess, she will never be heard from again.

      Report Post »  
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