Iman Al-Obeidi: "Every Day I Am Beaten" (NPR audio)

Iman al-Obeidi burst into the Rixos hotel in Tripoli, Libya on March 26 to tell foreign journalists that she had been detained for two days after being arrested at a checkpoint, then raped by up to 15 men while in custody. A violent scene erupted at the hotel, authorities threw a blanket over her head and whisked her away, and requests by reporters to interview her or confirm her whereabouts have since been denied. But NPR has now reached al-Obeidi by phone. The story she tells is alarming. She says a doctor has confirmed that she "was raped violently," that the men who allegedly raped her have not been arrested, and that she cannot leave her home because every time she does, she is beaten by strangers.

Iman al-Obeidi, who last month told reporters in Tripoli that she had been beaten and raped by men loyal to Moammar Gadhafi, tells NPR she is no longer in custody.

But, she says, "every day I am beaten."

And she fears for her life: "They threaten us with murder," she said by telephone from Libya to our colleague Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson's translator in Cairo. Her sister, Obeidi said, is also in danger.

Obeidi burst into a Tripoli hotel on March 26. As she tried to tell reporters about what she says had been done to her, she was dragged away by authorities in a dramatic scene played out in front of dozens of cameras.

"They took me to a prison" for 72 hours after that, she told NPR today. When she was allowed to go home, "they stopped me again and they stopped me three times, the last time was yesterday" -- when, she says, she was "beaten very hard [so] that I can't even leave my bed today."

NPR cannot at this time independently verify her accounts. The Gadhafi government has threatened to press criminal charges against her for allegedly making false accusations.

Audio and transcript here (NPR.org, thanks Andy Carvin)

Obeidi also spoke with CNN today, which says it will broadcast an interview with her tonight at 10 p.m. ET on AC360.

• Libya: Woman tells of kidnapping, rape by Qaddafi militia

• [Victor Drath]

  While don’t believe what the US claims it’s motivations are for bombing Libya, I do feel for this woman and certainly don’t believe she would risk life and limb making up a false story.

  The kind of guys who like raping woman are pussies who don’t have the brains, sense, or good looks to get a woman into bed by any other means than force.

  Or wait, I think I heard on tv or somewhere that it was a power thing. So hurting a person with a gang of your thug buddies makes one feel powerful, eh? Hmm, not sure about that. Again, pussies. :)

• [Anonymous]

  If *Gaddafi* is so upset that he’s considering criminal charges, then she must be telling the truth.

• [agates]

  What a horrific and sad story.

  We still have no business occupying Libya.

  “And for those Democrats who are either cheering on or grimly supporting the president’s actions, just remember this: Unless a Ron Paul-type miraculously emerges from the GOP field, the next Republican president now has an even lower bar than before when it comes to launching a preemptive war. There’s a reason why the biggest fans of last night’s speech were hawks like William Kristol: If you didn’t like Iraq, you really won’t like Iran. And when that day comes, please don’t debase yourselves by crying crocodile tears over the Constitution, or pretending for even one second you are anti-war.”

  -Matt Welch

• [Ernunnos]

  Sometimes I wonder how much pain and suffering could be avoided if we just locked up all the movies and books where the plot revolves around getting some piece of critical information to the press. As if just putting the information out there will solve the problem. In such a movie, this woman would have succeeded. She got to the hotel. Her message was finally heard. THE END.

  In the real world, the press is powerless. In the real world, you get dragged off by the government’s thugs anyway. In the real world, you get raped and beaten. And your family possibly gets killed too. In the real world, strangers accuse you of being a front for psyops.

• [bill]

  This entire “Iman Al-Obeidi” story has the stink of a propaganda op all over it.

  I am sure that Libyan state thugs are raping and beating and murdering. However, the way this woman’s dramatic “escape” and “recapture” played out literally in the laps of foreign press stinks bad. Bayonetted babies, anyone?

  • [ThinkCritically]

    Don’t stop now, Act III is soon to come.

    Prediction:
    Will she be rescued by U.S. Marines, recorded using POV cameras, OR will her stoning be spied from the sky with US Predator drones?

    The fact is that many in her community view this woman as a traitor. Angry shouts and physical abuse are sadly the community standard.

    During the partition of India, women suffered horrible violence perpetrated by different sects, including rape, abuse and even honour killings.

  • [trent1492]

    This entire “Iman Al-Obeidi” story has the stink of a propaganda op all over it.

    It must be so comforting to be able to engage in baseless accusations without a hint of evidence.

    . However, the way this woman’s dramatic “escape” and “recapture” played out literally in the laps of foreign press stinks bad.

    I keep on asking this question and the conspiracy theorist never ever answer it. Could you at least make a semblance of a reply? How exactly do you convince an agent of a foreign power to willingly subject themselves to capture by agovernment that you admit is brutal to its prisoners? What sort of compensation package do you offer in the event of torture and execution?

    • [ThinkCritically]

      His skepticism is justified. Regardless of whether the woman’s allegations are true or not, there is a without question a concerted media campaign to discredit the sovereign Libyan government.
      Furthermore, her story is simply that – a set of allegations. Not submitting to a medical exam and collection of evidence does not fully discredit her, but it certainly smacks of deception.

      trent1492, I think you miss the point that bill and others are trying to make. This allegation is receiving massively disproportionate media coverage for what is by all consideration, an isolated incident. Instead of consume this filtered data feed we have a right and I would argue a duty to ask why?

      Rather than making ad hominem attacks, please respect his views. He does not make the claim that she is necessarily an foreign agent. He does however suggest that her whole story is being conflated for military and political purposes.

• [ThinkCritically]

  At least Xeni’s headline this time maintains that this is a subjective report, and not one of objective fact.

  Iraq: 1 Million have been killed, 3 Million displaced.

  May we never forget their tragic loss in that war perpetuated on lies and deception. May we never be misled again lest we become the tyrants who deserve to be punished.

  There is no justice and freedom without vigilance.

• [bcsizemo]

  I still wonder why we are over there…

  I liked the 1900-1970′s version of “war” better than the PC things we do today. There were enemies, and you killed them. It was fairly simple and barbaric in nature, but you could easily see who was “winning” by the miles occupied.

  -and to point out the retro obvious: America probably wouldn’t be the country it is today if another country decided to try and stop our Civil War. You know we only lost 3% of our population….

• [awjtawjt]

  Ummm…. oil?

• [trent1492]

  His skepticism is justified.

  How? You saying so does not make it so.

  Regardless of whether the woman’s allegations are true or not, there is a without question a concerted media campaign to discredit the sovereign Libyan government.

  This is an non sequitur. How in the world can you dismiss what has happened to this women even if the allegations of media campaign are true?

  Furthermore, her story is simply that – a set of allegations. Not submitting to a medical exam and collection of evidence does not fully discredit her, but it certainly smacks of deception.

  So the only way that you would accept that this women story is even remotely true is that if she had submitted to a forensic exam for rape right then and there. Is that right? Do you hold all such events as allegations except for conspiracy theories that meet your political inclinations?

  I keep on asking and you and your cohorts refuse to answer this question. How exactly do you convince an agent of a foreign power to willingly subject themselves to capture by a government that you admit is brutal to its prisoners? What sort of compensation package do you offer in the event of torture and execution? Can you try?

  This allegation is receiving massively disproportionate media coverage for what is by all consideration, an isolated incident

  How did you come to the idea that this is an isolated incident? Is it your contention that this women’s report even if true is not a reflection of the Libyan governments past practices?

  You know the New York Times just published an account of a journalist who stumbled upon a torture facility in Zawiyhah, Libya. The following is an excerpt from the article:

  Some depicted corpses bearing the marks of torture. One showed scars down the back of a man dressed only in his underwear, another a naked man face down under a sheet with his hands bound. The faces of the dead bore expressions of horror. Other pictures showed puddles of blood, a table of jars, bottles and powders and, in one, a long saw.

  So tell me, what sort of evidence do you need to come to the conclusion that it is not out of the realm of possibility that the Libyan government commits these acts routinely? What would that evidence look like? A deposition at the Hague? A conviction at court?

  Rather than making ad hominem attacks, please respect his views.

  I am asking in all seriousness: Can you point out to me the relevant passages that you think are examples of ad hominems?

• [teapot]

  This is the standard operating practice of the Gaddafi regime and the primary reason his compound, army and ‘human shields’ need to be liquefied.

  The defecting foreign minister surely knows the coordinates of Gaddafi’s important bases and hiding places. Find out, and liquefy these fucks. So disgusting.

• [shadowfirebird]

  I imagine that Ghaddaffi is well aware that the press of the world have this woman in mind, and wish to make a story of her. It’s instructive to watch her treatment with that in mind.

  IRRESPECTIVE of the truth or falsehood of her claims, this is a damning example of what passes for justice in Libya at the moment.

• [Teller]

  For weeks now, I’ve watched Anderson put regular Libyans on CNN, sometimes just their pictures over an audio interview, to report what’s going on. I get eyewitness reports, but I find this to be a pretty dubious practice. Who are these people? How does CNN find them? Or do they find CNN? al-Obeidi has become a cause celebre on CNN, garnering, by now, nearly a hundred minutes of cabletime. It’s a horrific and enraging story. But somehow, the way CNN’s been presenting her over and over, I find myself thinking about CNN’s agenda rather than al-Obeidi – a sorry state of affairs when it concerns a woman’s accusation of gang rape.

• [Beelzebuddy]

  I had intended to make a cynical and ironically douchebaggy comment about how we needed to let the Libyans work things out for themselves, but I see others have beaten me to the punch, only minus the irony.

  You people make me sad.

  There are few circumstances which merit the invasion of another country in order to depose its ruling party. Regime-supported systematic rape, assault and murder of political dissidents is one of them. If Libya were a democracy, maybe it could’ve cleaned its own house with the UN’s strongly worded letters, but in a dictatorship things only can get better when they get replaced.

  And before the anti-american peanut gallery chimes in, yes, that goes for the US too. Too much bullshit gets covered up which needs to be flushed out into the sunlight, forcibly if necessary.

  • [Victor Drath]

    Yeah sure. Except we only stick our noses into things when there is something for us (the US) to gain. Mainly oil. But it’s also great business for defense contractors the more wars you’re uninvolved in.

    We are hypocrites. We preach freedom and democracy, while at the same time funding and protecting tyrants and dictators. The only time we say or do anything is when the tyrant is somebody who won’t play ball with us, someone we can’t use and isn’t subservient.

    If Libya where a democracy? We can’t even clean our own closets here. Corporate crooks and politicians are free to do as they see fit. The principals our country was founded on mean nothing. Our laws mean nothing. The law is whatever they say it is. Even human rights mean nothing these days.

    I feel for these people and I feel for this woman. If I knew how to do something about it, and had the resources, I would. Maybe the US’ actions there wouldn’t be so bad if we acted the same way towards every bad guy, not just the ones who won’t kiss our ass. Maybe if we didn’t have ulterior motives. And maybe if we practiced what we preach.

    • [Nadreck]

      So basically what you’re saying is that until we’re perfect in every way we should intervene nowhere and save no one. I guess we should have phoned up all the Jews, Kurds, Rwandans, Kosovo Albanians, Marsh Arabs and so on to say “Sorry you’re all being slaughtered. We could intervene and save you but since we can’t instantaneously get rid of all the evil in the world at same time it would be ‘inconsistent’ of us to do so in your case so we won’t. In addition, since we are organised on Capitalist lines and so can’t, literally, blow our noses without someone making a profit someone is sure to make a lot of money out of any intervention. Surprisingly there are few non-profit charities willing to finance this sort of thing. So an intervention might open us to criticism and thus you’ll all have to die for the sake of our reputations.” They, of course, would be perfectly understanding and would regret that they have only one life to give for our consistency and our clean hands.

      In the absence of infinite resources and the difficulty of getting the backing you need from multiple factions inside the Western democracies, some of whom aren’t terribly interested in human rights, we cherry-pick our interventions. So what? It’s not as if letting people die through inaction is exactly blame-free either. Inaction is a choice you bear responsibility for just as much as you do for actions.

      BTW – Various posters are talking about what a bad idea it would be if we were to occupy Libya. I guess that’s why no one’s suggested such a thing. Nice hot-button Straw Man though.

      • [Victor Drath]

        You seem to be under the impression that the US is involved to protect or save those who appose Gaddfi. I don’t know what the game plan is (no one does!), but that certainly isn’t it. If it were, inaction would not be our choice on all the other horrid events that are happening right now. We also would not be suppling arms and aid to dictators and evil creeps, arms that they turn around and use on their own people.

        But hmm, you really think we suddenly, SUDDENLY found a conscience or morales? Haha! Come on. Protecting rebels in Libya is only a side effect of whatever it is we want. With your way of thinking, it’s ok for a “friend” to show up at your door only when he wants something.

        Outside of the US (with our skewed media) people can see through us. That’s why we’re no longer respected, why we’re no longer looked to a beacon of hope and freedom like we once were. And those examples you mentioned? We sat on our hands and a lot of people died before we moved. Difficulty getting backing from multiple western democracies you say? Absurd. Our president now has the power (or believes he does) to send to full force of the most powerful military on earth down on anyone with a mere gesture, congress and law no longer apply.

        Should *something* be done, sure. But if so, it should also be done in other countries where hell is breaking loose and people are being abused, and not just be the dirty bastard who only shows up when he wants something. You loose all credibility and respect when you operate that way. Those things are important, as people that like you are less inclined to want to harm you.

        And with that I’m going to be quiet as this is gotten way off topic (admittedly I share some blame).

• [Lucifer]

  I am actually very surprised she is still alive given that the men who beat and raped her should be motivated to make her disappear.

  • [Zoman]

    I agree. Callous as it sounds, I wasn’t expecting her to surface again. I suppose anything in a war zone is possible, but personally, my bullsh*t’o'meter is twitching. It’s good demonising “copy” in a civil war that I suppose a lot of people in the west are wondering what we are doing being involved in. Especially in these times of cuts and austerity.

    • [travtastic]

      Please explain how this is a massive conspiracy.

  • [Michael Smith]

    given that the men who beat and raped her should be motivated to make her disappear.

    Only if they did something wrong in the eyes of Libyan society.

  • [Antinous / Moderator]

    Probably because she’s one of many.

• [Sapa]

  Is there any way that she could be taken out of there and given asylum?

  • [Lucifer]

    I don’t think our policy is to rescue non-citizens in this manner. However, if someone were to help her get to a consulate safely, perhaps we could grant her asylum if she asks for it.

• [opmaroon]

  http://www.blogfrommiddleeast.com/index.php/2009/10/05/?xstart=b&new=76299

• [Major Variola (ret)]

  How were those who collaborated with the germans treated, in 1945?

  • [Anonymous]

    If my reading is correct, lots of them were given meager rations (which actually seems fair, considering food rationing didn’t end in England until the 1950s) and sent to clean up their fucking mess. Like minefields and death camps and other fun leftovers.

  • [trent1492]

    How were those who collaborated with the germans treated, in 1945?

    Where are you going with this?

• [dagfooyo]

  I can’t even imagine the courage it took for her to make it to the hotel and get her story out to the world. I hope her brave actions help to stop these horrifying atrocities now that the scrutiny of the world’s media is upon them. She’s truly a hero, especially to all the other women in her situation. I hope with all my heart that she survives and finds some peace and happiness in the rest of her life.