Companion in Saudi Rape Case Pardoned

The companion to the Saudi rape victim who was convicted of a crime for being alone with him, and then pardoned after an international uproar, has himself been pardoned, CNN reports. Saudi Arabia's minister of justice confirmed this—and by implication revealed that the man, kidnapped along with the woman by the seven men who raped her, also suffered at the men's hands, and also faced charges—in a call to Saudi TV.

The two "have experienced enough torture, which should be enough punishment for them," the minister said, reading from King Abdullah's pardon letter. The woman was convicted of "illegal mingling" and sentenced to 90 lashes; the punishment was increased to 200 lashes and six months in jail when she appealed. No details were offered on the man's sentence. (More Saudi rape victim stories.)