British tourists raped in Jordan

The news agencies are reporting that two British women were raped last Saturday in fields near to the Jordan-Israel border. The women, who had been studying Arabic in Damascus, were on a short visit to Jordan and were visiting the Jordan valley and Dead Sea:

An investigation found the two female students could not find transport back to Amman after visits to the Jordan Valley and the nearby Dead Sea.
The women accepted an invitation from a Jordanian woman to spend the night at her house, a judicial official said. He said four drunk men sought to enter the house by force to kidnap the Britons.
The Jordanian woman sneaked them out a back door accompanied by her brother and his friend, the official added. On the road, the brother and his friend allegedly raped the Britons and dumped them in the vegetable grove.
The two women were studying Arabic at Damascus University, Syria, and came to Jordan for a visit during the Muslim festival of Eid.

Two men have been charged with the rape and could be executed if convicted; police are looking for two other suspects. Any of the sisters (or other women for that matter) travelling in Jordan should take good care until these men are caught (the description gives the impression that these women are indeed Muslims – does anyone have any info?).