Football World Cup worker sentenced to 100 lashings after assault complaint

A FIFA World Cup worker has described a harrowing experience after alleging she was sexually assaulted, faces jail time and 100 lashings after her time working in Qatar.

Mexican-born Paola Schietekat Sedas was working as part of the World Cup Organisational Committee in Qatar and has turned the spotlight on the nation once again.

FIFA continues to come under major international criticism for granting the nation hosting rights.

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The Qatar World Cup has been plagued with accusations of human rights violations, bribery and misconduct.

One of the major talking points leading up to the 2022 World Cup was the horrible human rights record of Qatar, especially against women.

Women have to live with state-based male guardianship rules that curtail their lives, according to a Human Rights Watch report.

This leaves many women with very few options to escape potential abuse.

And an incident involving 28-year-old Schietekat Sedas has created an international stir.

Schietekat Sedas penned an article with publication El Pais, where she alleged she was sexually assaulted.

She claimed a colleague snuck into her room while she was sleeping and overpowered her.

“After a brief struggle, as his strength exceeded mine, I ended up on the floor,” she wrote, according to El Pais.

“Hours later, I had bruises all over my left arm, shoulder and back. I kept a cool head. I told my mum, a colleague from work and I documented everything with photos, so that my memory, in an attempt to protect itself, would not minimise the events or completely erase part of them.”

Schietekat Sedas said after visiting the Mexican consulate, she went to the police with a medical certificate claiming to support her allegation of abuse.

She was called back to the police station and was interviewed in Arabic with the police also interviewing her alleged attacker.

The police then flipped the investigation when the alleged attacker claimed the pair were in a relationship.

The police asked Schietekat Sedas to undergo a virginity test.

Extramarital relationships are illegal in Qatar.

Schietekat Sedas claimed, in Qatar, they are more worried about defending the male attacker than the woman accuser.

“For some reason I had become the accused. When I asked why they demanded that I give them my cell phone, they assured me that there were no charges against me, that they just wanted to verify that there was no romantic relationship between us," she said.

“From one moment to another, my complaint no longer mattered. The police referred the case to the public prosecutor’s office, the only place where I had a translator. Everything centred around the extramarital affair.”

In horrific circumstances, Schietekat Sedas is currently facing up to seven years in prison and 100 lashings.

She claimed her lawyers said one way to avoid the conviction was to marry her alleged attacker.

Schietekat Sedas said the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and the Mexican consulate helped stamp her passport and leave the country safely.

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Schietekat Sedas would face 100 lashings and jail time if she returned to Qatar.

Her final hearing is on March 6 where the Mexican Embassy will attempt to reverse the decision and clear her name so one day she could return if she chooses.

Schietekat Sedas' story has once again raised the concerns of the World Cup being held in Qatar.

The nation has gone to extreme lengths to promote itself during the turmoil.

Qatar will allow rainbow flags to be flown in stadiums, despite homosexuality being illegal.

The record with migrant workers being injured or killed helping build the stadiums has also raised alarm bells.

Qatar has paid legendary Manchester United player David Beckham a reported $277 million to be the country's global ambassador for the next 10 years.

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