The Saudi 19-year old who was sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in jail after being the victim of a violent gang rape is fighting back. She plans to appeal the decision, and her family and lawyers are ignoring the court's warning that she not speak to the media about her plight. Here's what happened: The young woman -- who is a minority Shiite Muslim -- was riding in a car with a male friend last year when two men climbed into the vehicle, took control of it, and drove to a secluded location. There the woman was raped by 7 men and her friend was attacked. The rapists, who are Sunni, were sentenced to between two and nine years in jail. The woman was convicted for riding in a car with a man to whom she is not related, which is against Saudi law. It's a barbaric legal code and a barbaric sentence, not only because of the tragedy of this one woman's story, but because it sends the message to every Saudi woman that she will be punished if she dares to report a rape. The Canadian government has strongly condemned the ruling and will lodge complaints with international organizations. Bush administration...are you listening? --Dana Goldstein
