A/HRC/7/10/Add.1 page 56 detainees' “kafils” (sponsors/employers) to ensure the departure of the Ahmadiyya believers to their countries of origin. These events are reported to cause a sense of insecurity and discomfort among the Ahmadiyya believers in Saudi Arabia. Response from the Government dated 6 February 2007 236. The Government indicated that the persons concerned were arrested after more than 150 members of the Ahmadiyya (Qadiani) community held an unauthorized assembly which disturbed and alarmed other people living in the neighbourhood. They were released when bail was posted in respect of their violation of the Kingdom’s regulations and after undertaking to refrain from causing further disturbance to other residents. Observations 237. The Special Rapporteur is grateful for the Government’s response. Urgent appeal sent on 22 November 2007 jointly with the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences 238. The Special Rapporteurs brought to the attention of the Government information they had received concerning regarding a 19-year-old Shiite woman from Al-Qatif. According to the allegations received, in 2006, the Shiite woman and a male companion were kidnapped at knifepoint by a gang of seven Sunni men. The male companion was attacked by the gang, and later released. The woman, however, was repeatedly raped by the gang. Four members of the gang were at the time sentenced by the Qatif General Court to prison terms ranging from one to five years, with floggings of up to 1000 lashes. Three other gang members reportedly turned themselves in before the conclusion of the trial. 239. The victim of the gang rape and her male companion were convicted in 2006 of being alone in private with a member of the opposite sex who was not an immediate family member, under an offence known as Khilwa in sharia law. Following the request of the review of the verdict by the woman and her lawyer, on 15 November 2007, a court in eastern Saudi Arabia increased the original sentence against the seven members of the gang, and also increased the sentence against the 19-year old woman from 90 lashes to 200 lashes and a six month prison term. In addition, it is reported that the court revoked the professional license of her lawyer and banned him from defending her. Observations 240. The Special Rapporteur regrets that she has not received a reply from the Government concerning the above mentioned allegations. They show that women may suffer from aggravated discrimination with regard to their religious, ethnic and sexual identities, for example when female members of minority religions become victims of rape and violence. The Special Rapporteur welcomes that according to various news reports Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah issued an official pardon for the woman and the male companion on 17 December 2007.