Government: Libyan woman who alleged rape to journalists released
By the CNN Wire Staff
March 28, 2011 -- Updated 0009 GMT (0809 HKT)
* The matter is "a criminal case," says government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim
* Eman al-Obeidy is at home with her family, he says
* "She ... entered a place she wasn't supposed to enter"
Read CNN cameraman's account of the incident in the Tripoli hotel.
Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- A Libyan woman who stormed into a Tripoli hotel
Saturday, telling foreign reporters that she had been raped by government
troops, has been released, and her case is being investigated, government
spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said Sunday.
The matter is "a criminal case against four individuals" who have an attorney,
he said. Among those accused by Eman al-Obeidy is the son of a high-ranking
official, he said. The general attorney is looking into the case.
The woman "hasn't committed, you know, any particular major offense," Ibrahim
said. "She just entered a place she wasn't supposed to enter."
He said al-Obeidy and her family have been asked if they want to be interviewed
by "one or two, preferably female, reporters to verify that she's fine, she's
healthy, she's free with her family."
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RELATED TOPICS
* Eman al-Obeidy
* Libya
* Tripoli
* Sexual Offenses
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But Ibrahim refused to take further questions on the issue Sunday, noting that
Libyan society is "very conservative."
CNN's Nic Robertson, who has been on the ground in Tripoli since February 27,
cautioned against taking Ibrahim's statements as fact, noting that "oftentimes
what he says doesn't match reality."
"We've been told by the government that she's with her family, but when we
asked, 'Could we go and see them?' the government official said that would be
up to the family," Robertson said, adding that journalists have indeed been in
touch with the family, who have said they would grant permission to see
al-Obeidy.
However, international journalists, including CNN's staff, are not allowed to
move freely in the Libyan capital and are escorted out of the hotel only on
organized outings by government minders. Saturday's incident was the first time
a Libyan opposed to Gadhafi attempted to independently approach the journalists
in Tripoli.
Robertson also tried to ask Ibrahim about statements the spokesman made
referring to al-Obeidy as a prostitute, but he declined to answer the question
while saying, "I'm not withdrawing from what I said."
"We need to protect her privacy, her daughter's rights when she grows up,"
Ibrahim said. "We need to make this as criminal case, as legal a case as
possible without talking about people's history, their files, their previous
crimes or their lifestyle."
Wedad Omar, the woman's cousin, told CNN that the 30-year-old al-Obeidy is
single and does not have a daughter.
Al-Obeidy burst into the hotel Saturday as international journalists were
having breakfast. Her face was bruised, as were her legs. She showed the
journalists blood on her right inner thigh.
Speaking in English, she said she was from the rebel stronghold of Benghazi and
had been held against her will for two days and raped by 15 men.
"Look at what Gadhafi's brigades did to me," she said. "My honor was violated
by them." She displayed what appeared to be visible rope burns on her wrists
and ankles.
CNN could not independently verify al-Obeidy's story, but her injuries appeared
consistent with what she said.
Government officials moved to stifle her, but she persisted. Security forces
moved to subdue her, and even a member of the hotel's kitchen staff drew a
knife. "Traitor!" he shouted at her. Another staffer attempted to throw a dark
tablecloth over her head.
One government official, who was there to facilitate access for journalists,
pulled a pistol from his belt. Others scuffled with the journalists and
wrestled them to the ground in an attempt to take away their equipment. Some
journalists were beaten and kicked. CNN's camera was confiscated and
deliberately smashed beyond repair.
Security men said al-Obeidy was "mentally ill" and was being taken to a
"hospital" as they dragged her to a waiting white car. She insisted she was
being taken to jail, saying, "If you don't see me tomorrow, then that's it."
Officials later said the woman was sane and would bring criminal charges
against her attackers.
CNN's Nic Robertson, Reza Sayah and Khalil Abdallah contributed to this report
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