W Doha emphasises guest safety after rape claim

The Doha hotel, where a Dutch woman claims she was drugged before being raped elsewhere, has insisted that safety and security of its guests is its “paramount priority”.

The women, identified as “Laura”, said she was drugged during a party in March at the Crystal Lounge nightclub at the W Doha Hotel, and woke up in an unfamiliar apartment when she realised she had been sexually assaulted. “Laura” was arrested on March 14, and held in custody for committing illicit sex acts, before being convicted of having sex out of wedlock by a Qatari court on Monday and given a one-year suspended sentence.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts, the parent company of the W Doha, told Hotelier Middle East: "The safety and security of our guests and associates is our paramount priority. All inquiries in regard to this incident should be directed to the local authorities who we have fully supported in their investigations. We are not in a position to comment any further."

Al Jazeera reported that the woman, 22, was ordered to be deported to the Netherlands once the ruling was formalised. Dutch ambassador Yvette Burghgraef Van Eechoud said: "We will do everything we can to get her out of the country as soon as possible. Under the circumstances, "Laura"is doing fine."

The accused man in the case, identified as Omar Abdullah al-Hasan, was also convicted of having sex outside of marriage.