Dubai rape teen negative for HIV

DUBAI (CNN) -- A French teenage boy who was kidnapped and raped in Dubai by two men, one of whom was HIV-positive, has tested negative for HIV and hepatitis, the teenager's mother said Friday.

The news comes a month after a Dubai court sentenced the two men to 15 years in prison for the attack.

The teenager's mother, Veronique Robert, said her son is very happy about his test results and feels he can now go on with his life. She said he plans to return to school as soon as possible and continue with psychological therapy.

The case began last July, when the two men kidnapped and raped the teenager at knifepoint.

Robert contacted French diplomats, who took up the allegations with Dubai authorities. A government spokesman said arrests were made within 24 hours.

But Robert has said the case was botched from the start, beginning with her son's examination by a doctor who said her son was gay. Homosexuality in Dubai is illegal, and the teen could have faced as much as a year in prison as a result.

Robert has also said Dubai authorities repeatedly concealed evidence -- confirmed in court papers -- that one of the attackers was HIV-positive. She said her son could have gotten tests and treatment much sooner had he known.

Dubai authorities deny any evidence was concealed.

The case has shed light on Dubai's attitudes toward rape and homosexuality, which some Western observers have said is outdated. Government spokesman Habib al Mulla has said that, on the contrary, the case proves the system works -- but the government will make improvements if necessary.

A Dubai court last month sentenced the men to 15 years in prison, but Robert called the sentence too lenient and promised to pursue damages in civil court. Dubai law forbids an appeal.

The mother said Friday she still plans to return to Dubai for legal action but had not yet set a date.

Robert, a French journalist, brought the case to the media's attention and started a Web site, boycottdubai.com, demanding better treatment for children who suffer sexual assault in the emirate.

In the wake of the verdict, Robert said a Dubai government official told her the emirate plans to open its first rape clinic, which she said is a small victory. The government told reporters it is considering such a move. E-mail to a friend

CNN's Mustafa Al-Arab contributed to this report

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