Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Orobator Spared? Not So Fast


I first saw this story on the web yesterday about the British citizen, Samantha Orobator, who had been arrested in Laos and charged with smuggling heroin. She faces the death penalty.

A lot has been made out of the fact that she is pregnant and concerned parties are hoping that this will make a difference in the determination of her sentence, in an attempt to spare her life.

Well today Fox News, which is repeating a Sky News story has this headline.
Pregnant U.K. Woman Will Not Be Shot in Drug Trafficking Case

Now before everybody gets all happy and breaks their wrists slapping themselves on the back I would like to splash a little cold water in their faces. It is true that most often these countries will not execute pregnant women, but pregnancy is a temporary condition. Just like in the Muslim world, they will quite often carry out the death sentence once the woman give birth.
The Laos government says the country's law bans executing pregnant prisoners.

So don't get all happy just yet and make sure you aren't losing something in translation.

No comments: