Woman alleges that 20 firefighters raped her in France for more than two years from the age of 13: two admit to having ‘group sex’ while on duty and wearing their uniforms
- A woman in France claims she was raped by 20 firefighters over two years
- She claims she was only 13 years old when a firefighter started caring for her
- Ten years later, three men are charged with sexual offenses
- Case sparked protests and calls to usher in an era of sexual consent
A woman in France has claimed she was raped by 20 firefighters over a two-year period of 20 to 13 years.
The woman, now 25, said she was cared for by a firefighter who assisted her during an anxiety attack in 2008.
Ten years after the alleged abuse, three men are charged with sexual offenses, and the highest court in the country ruled Wednesday on the case.
The case of the alleged victim, dubbed ‘July’ by the French media, has sparked protests in France, and fighters demanding that an age of sexual consent be required should be enshrined in law.
Dozens of people gathered in Place Saint-Michel on Sunday to demand ‘Justice for July’
In French law, there is an ‘age of sexual majority’ at 15, but there is no age below which a minor cannot be considered as consent, which means that a child is not necessarily considered a rape victim.
It is an offense for someone in a position of authority to have sex with a person under 18 years of age.
By comparison, in the UK, sex with younger than 13 is legal rape.
Demonstrations broke out across France over the weekend in support of the woman.
Julie claims that one firefighter named Pierre started caring for her at the age of 13 before she was raped by him and 19 of his colleagues over two years.
In January 2009, Pierre allegedly visited Julie’s home and raped her while her mother was out for a dog walk.
Julie told investigators that Pierre, in full uniform, took July to his apartment in November 2009 where two colleagues raped her gang.
In French law, there is an ‘age of sexual majority’ at 15, but there is no age below which a minor cannot agree. Above protest action Sunday in Paris
At least three of the firefighters admitted to having intercourse with the then-teenager, although they claim the gender was consensus.
Julie says she was ‘scared to death and paralyzed by fear’ at the time.
The men visited her home 130 times over two years, according to a report in The Guardian.
The girl’s mother told investigators she had no idea what was going on. “I even made cake for the firefighters,” she said.
About Pierre, she said: “I thought he was the last person to do such a thing because he helped her so many times and saw how vulnerable she was.”
Julie’s mental and physical health deteriorated after the alleged assaults, and she prescribed medication for anxiety.
After picking up medication in July 2010, she disclosed the abuse to her mother, who filed a police report.
Dozens of people gathered at Place Saint-Michel this Sunday to demand ‘Justice for July’.
Her case has been taken to the country’s highest court of appeal and will come to a conclusion on Wednesday.
Three men are currently being charged with ‘sexual offenses’, although prosecutors will argue that all 20 men should be found guilty of rape.
In France, the maximum sentence for sexual offense is seven years, compared to 20 for rape.
To file charges of rape in France, the complainant must prove that she was forced or forcibly forced.
The victim’s legal lawyer, Marjolaine Vignola, said: ‘Every stereotype about rape is in this case: the judges and the psychiatrist say Julie is a liar, that she agreed to have sex with all the men and that she was lying about rape because she is shy. ‘