Almost 150 women have been sentenced to 100 lashes because they are supposed to have indulged in extra-marital sex."Only" 50 men have received the same sentence, because, as Mona Eltahawy writes in "The International Herald Tribune" (August, 15), they "can escape a flogging for extramarital sex just by denying the charges".
Public opinion and politicians are divided about the issue. One local female MP, Eva Abdulla, argues that these "inhumane" sentences which target mostly women should be stopped.
Tourism is a key industry in the Maldives, with more visitors, around half a million each year, than inhabitants (less then 400 000). Tourists rarely see the floggings, since the women are whipped in public in the country's capital, Male, but of course not on the beaches or in front of the hotels!
What we should do now is spread the news in America and in Europe and threaten the Maldivian governnment with a boycott. The country could hardly afford a world-wide campaign which would harm the economy and scare off foreign investors.