Standing by its decision, the Ministry of Justice issued a statement that said, “’The charges were proven against the woman for having been in a car with unrelated male, and repeated criticism of her lawyer for talking defiantly about the judicial system.’’

The court also banned lawyer Abdul Rahman al-Lahem from further defending the woman, by confiscating his licence and summoning him to a disciplinary hearing later this month.

The Ministry implied that the victim’s sentence was increased because she had spoken out to the press. “’For whoever has an objection on verdicts issued, the system allows to appeal without resorting to the media,’’ said the statement, the Gulf News reported.

The woman had earlier been sentenced to 90 lashes. The verdict sentencing the victim led to an international outcry. The New York-based Human Rights Watch said the verdict ‘’not only sends victims of sexual violence the message that they should not press charges, but in effect offers protection and impunity to the perpetrators.’’