Iman al-Obeidi

Iman al-Obeidi
Eman
Pronunciationإيمان
Born
Iman

Circa 1982
Tobruk, Libya
NationalityLibyan
CitizenshipLibya
EducationOmar Al-Mukhtar University
Alma materOmar Al-Mukhtar University, Bayda
FamilyAmal

Iman al-Obeidi (also spelled Eman al-Obeidy; Arabic: إيمان العبيدي  pronounced [ʔiːˈmæːn əlʕʊˈbeːdi]; born circa 1982) is a former Libyan postgraduate law student who received worldwide media attention during the Libyan Civil War. This was because she burst into the restaurant of the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli and told the international press corps there that Libyan troops had beaten and gang-raped her. Her public statement challenged both the Gaddafi government and the taboo against discussing sex crimes in Libya.[1]

Government security forces dragged her out of the hotel to an unknown destination, and attacked journalists who tried to help her. Government representatives claimed she was drunk, mentally ill, a prostitute, and a thief, and said she would be charged with slander.[2] The Washington Post described her as a "symbol of defiance against Gaddafi."[3]

She was released from government detention after three days, and was interviewed several times by Libya TV—an opposition satellite channel—and by CNN, during which she offered graphic details of her rape and subsequent detention by government officials.[4] She fled Libya with a defecting military officer, who helped her cross into Tunisia, dressed in a Berber tribal costume to hide her identity. She was initially offered protection by European diplomats in Qatar[5] and applied for refugee status there. After initially protecting her, in early June 2011 Qatar forcibly deported her back to Libya.[6] On June 4, 2011, she was granted asylum in the United States with the help of Hillary Clinton.[7]

Al-Obeidi settled in Colorado under the name Eman Ali.[8][9][10][11] She was later charged with a number of violent offenses, including a February 2014 assault on two patrons at a downtown bar in Boulder, Colorado for which she was convicted in May 2015 of a Class 4 felony.[12]

  1. ^ Jacinto, Leela. "Rape of Iman Al-Obaidi Is Rape of Libya by Qadhafi and his Thugs", Al-Jazeera, April 3, 2011.
  2. ^ Clover, Charles. "Lone, brave woman exposes truth of Libya", The Financial Times, March 28, 2011.
  3. ^ Bahrampour, Tara and Sly, Liz. "Libyan government offered money to appease Iman al-Obaidi, woman in rape-claim case, mother says", The Washington Post, March 27, 2011.
  4. ^ For the CNN interview, see Cooper, Anderson. "Alleged Libyan rape victim speaks out", AC360, CNN, April 4, 2011.
    • For background, see "Alleged Libyan rape victim no longer in government custody", CNN, April 4, 2011.
    • For the Libya TV interview, see "Translated: new Libya Satellite channel in Qatar confirms Eman Al Obeidy is released from custody via telephone interview". Libyafeb17.com. April 3, 2011.
    • That she was, in effect, under house arrest, see Kirkpatrick, David. "After Rape Report in Libya, Woman Sees Benefit in Publicity", The New York Times, April 4, 2011.
    • For CNN update, see "Video: 'Please do not forget me,' says Al-Obeidy", CNN, April 11, 2011.
  5. ^ Robertson, Nic. "Alleged rape victim flees Libya", CNN, May 8, 2011.
  6. ^ "Alleged Libyan rape victim deported from Qatar back to Libya", CNN, June 2, 2011.
  7. ^ WebCite query result[dead link]; accessed June 24, 2015.
  8. ^ "Libyan refugee arrested after failing to appear in court on Boulder case". Daily Camera. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  9. ^ "Libyan refugee Iman al-Obeidi convicted in Boulder assault case". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  10. ^ "Libyan political refugee living in Boulder charged with assault arrested again". 7NEWS. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  11. ^ Moni Basu, CNN (2 September 2015). "Libyan symbol of freedom facing 6 years behind bars - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved 3 September 2015. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference CNN20150730 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).