Women

20 French Firefighters Accused Of Raping A Girl Will Only Be Tried For Sexual Assault And People Want Justice

France’s highest court has ruled a group of firefighters accused of raping a girl from when she was 13 to 15 years old will not be charged with rape but with sexual assault, which carries a lighter sentence than rape.

Selina Wu

Selina Wu

— 3 min read
20 French Firefighters Accused Of Raping A Girl Will Only Be Tried For Sexual Assault And People Want Justice

France’s highest court has ruled a group of firefighters accused of raping a girl from when she was 13 to 15 years old will not be charged with rape but with sexual assault, which carries a lighter sentence than rape.

The victim known as Julie, a pseudonym her family used to protect her privacy, said she was raped over a period of two years, starting in 2008 after a firefighter named Pierre assisted her when she had an anxiety seizure in school.

Protesters and members of the feminist movement 'Les Colleuses' gather in front of a fire brigade in Paris to "demand justice for Julie who was raped by 20 firemen" photo.
Protesters and members of the feminist movement ‘Les Colleuses’ gather in front of a fire brigade in Paris during a demonstration to “demand justice for Julie who was raped by 20 firemen”. (Photo by CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP via Getty Images)

Pierre, a firefighter at the Bourg-la-Reine fire station in Paris, then obtained her phone number through her medical file and later introduced his colleagues from various stations to her.

During the two years, she was allegedly raped by 20 men. Three of the men admitted to having sex with Julie but said it was consensual. The other 17 accused have not been charged.

Demonstration of support for Julie, who accuses firefighters of having raped her in France photo.
Demonstration of support for Julie, who accuses firefighters of having raped her, in Paris, France. (Photo by Vincent Koebel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

On Wednesday Mar. 24, France’s Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that Julie, now 25, “had the necessary discernment” to reject the firefighters’ advances, according to the Washington Post.

Femen activists, members of women's rights association and member of the "Collages Feminicides Paris" feminist organisation's Marguerite Stern (3L down) hold letters forming the message "Justice for Julie" outside the appeal chamber at Versailles photo.
Femen activists, members of women’s rights association and member of the “Collages Feminicides Paris” feminist organisation’s Marguerite Stern (3L down) hold letters forming the message “Justice for Julie” at the investigating chamber outside the appeal chamber at Versailles. (Photo by CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP via Getty Images)

The maximum sentence for sexual assault is seven years while it is 20 years for rape, according to the Guardian.

Julie’s lawyers criticized the court’s judgement, saying it was based on “archaic ideology.”

The decision comes just days after the lower house of the French Parliament unanimously voted in favor of a draft law that establishes 15 as the age of “non-consent” following several sexual abuse and incest scandals involving minors. Under the draft law, any sexual act, including oral sex, committed by an adult on a person under the age of 15 is considered rape.

Protesters hold placards including one readiing "Stop to the culture of rape" during a demonstration called by feminist groups after a French court retained the legal classification of "sexual infringement", in the accusation of three firefighters over relations with a 14-year-old minor, "Julie" photo.
Protesters hold placards including one readiing “Stop to the culture of rape” during a demonstration called by feminist groups after a French court retained the legal classification of “sexual infringement”, in the accusation of three firefighters over relations with a 14-year-old minor, “Julie”. (Photo by THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Julie’s family said they intend on bringing the case to the European court of human rights.

Her mother said Julie has since made several suicide attempts, which has left her with a severe disability, the Washington Post reported.

The case has sparked protests in support of Julie with protesters demanding justice for her using the hashtag #JusticePourJulie.

A Femen activist holds a sign reading "Stop impunity!" during a demonstration called by feminist groups after a French court retained the legal classification of "sexual infringement" photo.
A Femen activist holds a sign reading “Stop impunity!” during a demonstration called by feminist groups after a French court retained the legal classification of “sexual infringement”. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP) (Photo by THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images)

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