More details have emerged about the victim in the Dominique Strauss-Kahn rape case. She has been described as a 32-year-old Muslim from the West African nation of Guinea who sought asylum in the United States. Her attorney is Jeffrey Shapiro.

Jeffrey Shapiro, attorney for alleged victim: “She’s a 32-year-old woman who comes from Guinea, who came to the United States approximately seven years ago with her daughter. The daughter is now 15 years old. She’s a single mother. She’s the sole support of herself and her daughter. She’s alone in this country. She was not allowed much of an education in her home country, came here, you know, under difficult circumstances, but managed to develop a trade in becoming a housekeeper, was very grateful to have that job, worked at this particular hotel for approximately three years, and was very happy for the fact that she lived in this country and she could provide a life for herself and her daughter.”