Qatar: No lashes and imprisonment for World Cup employees

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Soccer World Cup venue Doha, Qatar

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Christian Charisius / dpa

A court in Qatar has dropped the case against a Mexican employee of the World Cup organizing committee.

This is reported by the Mexican and Spanish media.

The woman previously faced a penalty of 100 lashes and seven years in prison for allegedly having sex outside of marriage.

The case had attracted international attention.

According to human rights organizations, a conviction could have deterred many women from attending the World Cup, which begins in November.

Charge after reported rape

Paola Schietekat, now 28, had worked for the Supreme Council for Organization and Sustainability (SC), a FIFA partner in Qatar that was set up to provide the infrastructure and host the World Cup.

In June 2021, Schietekat reported a rape in the conservative Gulf state.

However, the alleged perpetrator claimed to be in a relationship with the Mexican, prompting an investigation into Schietekat for extramarital sex.

According to the Mexican government, these investigations have now ended.

Schietekat had left the country months ago.

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