UAE Five Star Hotel Sued as Women is Raped and Jailed for having Sex outside Marriage

An Australian woman is suing a five-star UAE hotel after she was drugged and raped by co-workers - but ended up in jail for eight months for having sex outside marriage.

Alicia Gali, 29, had her drink spiked and was raped by four co-workers at the luxury Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in the United Arab Emirates in June 2008.

She is seeking compensation from her former employer for breaching its workplace duty of care after she reported the assault to authorities, only to be jailed for eight months on an adultery charge.

Ms Gali claims the hotel failed to protect staff against assault and its legal consequences.

She alleges the resort encouraged workers to drink illegally, despite strict laws and the requirement of drinking permits.

The 'harrowing' ordeal has since caused Ms Gali severe post traumatic stress disorder, nightmares, flashbacks, depression and claustrophobia, according to her lawyer Melissa Payne.

Trey Maurice from the resort's parent company Starwood Hotels, said safety and security of staff is a paramount priority.

Mr Maurice says the management of the resort was aware of the unfortunate circumstances and provided support and assistance to Ms Gali and her family during her imprisonment.

Ms Payne said Ms Gali's lawsuit against the resort was likely to take place in court in Queensland, Australia, but could possible happen in the UAE.

An exact figure for the compensation has yet to be determined, Ms Payne said.

Source: Daily Mail

Villagers Worship "Dog God"

In the A V Halli village, situated in the Ramnagaram district of India, the Karnataka villagers of South India have taken to worshiping “Sri Naayidole Veerappa,” also known as “dog God.” The temple of the dog God is located right next to the temple of “‘Sri Veeramasti Kempamma,” a local village deity, and the villagers believe that the dog serves as the god’s lieutenant.

According to Rajesh, a devotee of Sri Naayidole Veerappa, ‘‘People come here and make wishes. They return to pay respects after their wishes are fulfilled.”

The dog God, in addition to serving as a sort of local fortune teller, seemingly warning the villagers of bad events to come, as proven to be a bit of inspiration for the naming of newborns. In an attempt to prove their devotion to the dog God, many families have taken to naming their children after the dog God. If it’s a boy, the child is named Veerappa or Veeranna; girls are named Veeramma. Give it a few years and it’ll become the new “Steve” or “Jennifer.”

Beyond this, however, is the abolishment of caste discrimination that the dog God has brought to the village. The dog God’s priest is a member of the dalit caste, the Sanskrit of which means “broken to pieces.” In essence, they’re outcasts. Given the dalit status of the priest, the dog God’s significance in the village is incredibly important within the context of the Indian caste system.

Source: Weird News Asia