Visitor raped girl, 8, as she clutched Quran, Dubai court rules

DUBAI // A man lurking outside a Quran school was sentenced this morning to 15 years in prison for kidnapping and raping an eight-year-old girl as she clutched the holy book in fear.

The Pakistani MR, 21, had denied the charges in the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance in January and said he had been tortured with electric shocks into confessing.

"I have signs of electric shocks on my back," he said. "Your honour, I am innocent and I didn't commit any crime. The girl asked me to give her a lift."

MR lured the girl into his car while she was with her friends in front of a Quran learning centre in Dubai. He promised to buy her and her friends juice, and gave her Dh10.

Prosecutors said the girl cried and held the Quran in fear as he raped her. He threatened to kill her and cut her body into pieces if she did not comply with his demands.

He ... stopped in some car park and moved next to me in the back seat. He beat and threatened me then undressed me,” the girl said.

After the incident MR dropped her in front of the centre and she walked home.

He will be deported after serving his prison term.

salamir@thenational.ae