Sarah Balabagan (born August 16, 1979) (her family name phonetically pronounced as Ba-la-BAH-gan) was a Filipina prisoner in the United Arab Emirates during 1994 - 96 whose case caused a good deal of controversy. Events 1384 - The Hongwu Emperor of Ming China, Emperor Dong hears a case of a couple who tore paper money bills while fighting Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) A family name or last name is a type of Surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs Filipinos or the Filipino people are the citizens of the Philippines. Her story was made into a controversial film in 1997.
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Her case in the UAE
Balabagan grew up in a Muslim community on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines, in the province of Sultan Kudarat. This article is concerned with the religion of Islam in the Philippines Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost Island in the Philippines. Sultan Kudarat is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Like many Filipinas, she left to become a domestic worker, lying about her age, and obtained a post in the town of Al-Ain in the UAE. A domestic worker, domestic, servingman, servingwoman, or servant is one who works and often also lives within the employer's household Al Ain ( Arabic: العين,, literally The Spring) is the fourth largest city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE On July 19, 1994, she killed her employer, Almas Mohammed al-Baloushi, 85, stabbing him 34 times. Events 711 - Muslim forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeat the Visigoths led by their king Roderic. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) She alleged that he tried to rape her, and that she was acting in self-defense. Rape, also referred to as Sexual assault, is an Assault by a person involving Sexual intercourse with or Sexual penetration of another person On June 26, 1995, a court ruled that she was both guilty of manslaughter as well a victim of rape. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian is killed during the retreat from the Sassanid Empire. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being in a manner considered by law as less culpable than Murder. She was sentenced to seven years imprisonment and ordered to pay 150,000 dirhams ($40,000) blood money to relatives of the deceased, while at the same time she was awarded 100,000 dirhams ($27,000) as compensation for the rape [1]. The dirham (درهم ( sign: دإ; code: AED) is the currency of the United Arab Emirates. However, the prosecution appealed the verdict, calling for the death penalty. On September 6, 1995, a second Islamic court found no evidence of rape and convicted her of premeditated murder, sentencing her to death by firing squad. Events 3114 BC - According to the Proleptic Julian calendar the current era in the Maya Long Count Calendar started Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Capital punishment, the death penalty or execution, is the Killing of a person by judicial process as Punishment. Execution by firing squad is a method of Capital punishment, particularly common in times of war There was an international outcry and a defense campaign in several countries, as her case was seen as symbolising the ill-treatment of domestic servants in the Persian Gulf countries, and just a few months earlier there had been the rather similar case of Flor Contemplación, a Filipina domestic servant who was hanged in Singapore. The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region is an extension of the Flor R Contemplacion (January 1953 - March 17, 1995) was a Filipina Domestic worker who was executed in Singapore for Singapore
Reportedly, it was only after a personal appeal for mercy by the President of the UAE Sheikh Zayed that the victim's family agreed to drop their execution demand in exchange for blood money [1]. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (زايد بن سلطان آل نهيان (1918 &mdash 2 November 2004) the principal architect of United Arab On October 30, at her third trial, her sentence was reduced to a year's imprisonment and 100 strokes of the cane, along with payment of blood money, which was donated by a Filipino businessman. Events 637 - Antioch surrenders to the Muslim forces under Rashidun Caliphate after the Battle of Iron bridge. Caning is a Physical punishment (see that article for generalities and alternatives consisting of a number of hits (known as "strokes" or "cuts" with She was caned in 20 strokes at a time, over five days during January 30 - February 5 in 1996. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Events 1576 - Henry of Navarre converts to Roman Catholicism in order to ensure his right to the throne of France. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Philippine Ambassador Roy Seneres said "Balabagan said it was bearable. Embassy officials visited her twice afterward, and there were no marks or bruises or reddening. " [2] She returned to the Philippines on August 1, 1996 to a heroine's welcome. Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) A hero (from Greek grc ἥρως hērōs) in Greek mythology and Folklore, was originally a Demigod, the offspring of a mortal and
Film version
In 1997 her story was made into a film, The Sarah Balabagan Story. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar It was made in the Philippines, directed by Joel Lamangan, and starred Vina Morales in the title role. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Joel Cruz Lamangan is an award-winning Filipino Film director, Television director and Actor. Vina Morales (born 17 October 1975 in Bogo, Cebu, Philippines) known for the titles of the Ultimate Performer of Balabagan was offered the chance to play herself, but declined. The government of the Philippines made several attempts to prevent the film from being shown, because it might damage relations with the United Arab Emirates, and its release was delayed for several months. (It was made in the Tagalog language, it is not clear whether there is an English subtitled or dubbed version available. Tagalog is one of the major languages used in the Philippines. )
Later life
Shortly after her release, Balabagan embarked on a career as a singer. She also appeared on a television programme with Geri Halliwell. Geraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell (born 6 August 1972 is an English pop Singer-songwriter, Children's author, Actress In 1998, she became a single parent after a brief relationship with a broadcasting journalist. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) A journalist (also called a newspaperman) is a person who practices Journalism, the gathering and dissemination of information about current events trends In August 2003 she announced her engagement to Russell Vergara. August 2003: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - NOTICE TO WOULD-BE-ROMEOS***************
References
- ^ United Arab Emirates: Amnesty International is concerned about the capital sentence imposed on Sarah Balabagan, a Filipino maid
- ^ WORLD CORPORAL PUNISHMENT ARCHIVE: Arab Emirates: Judicial caning - February 1996 - aeju9602
External links
- Campaign against her death sentence
- She returns to the Philippines
- The Sarah Balabagan Story at the Internet Movie Database
- Her singing career
- She announces her engagement
- Controversy surrounding the film
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