Thousands protest in Spain over Pamplona rape acquittal

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Thousands protested in various Spanish cities on Thursday after five men were acquitted of gang raping a woman at the famous Pamplona bull-running festival in 2016, and were instead convicted of the lesser crime of sexual abuse.

The men, including a Guardia Civil policeman and a former soldier, were sentenced on Thursday to nine years each in jail and ordered to pay the victim 50,000 euros (61,000 US dollars) in compensation, on the charge of "continuous sexual abuse."

Judges however acquitted them of the rape charge, which carried a 22-year sentence.

The case captured headlines all over Spain as details emerged of the attack from the group, who called themselves "La Manada" (The Wolf Pack).

File picture of the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. /VCG Photo

The five men, aged 27 to 29, were accused of raping their 18-year-old victim at the entrance to an apartment building in Pamplona in July 2016 at the start of the week-long San Fermin festival, which draws tens of thousands of visitors.

They allegedly filmed the incident with their smartphones and then bragged about it on a WhatsApp messaging group.

Defense lawyers argued the incident was a case of consensual group sex. But prosecutors pointed out that the victim had met the men just seven minutes before the incident and did not even know their names.

Neither the five men, who have been in pre-trial custody since their arrest in July 2016, nor the woman were in court on Thursday.

Lawyers for the woman and attorneys for four of the men have now said they will appeal the verdicts.

A protester holds a placard reading 'It is not abuse. It is rape!' during a demonstration outside the ministry of justice in Madrid, Spain, April 26, 2018. /VCG Photo

On Thursday evening, protesters gathered outside the Pamplona courthouse in northern Spain, shouting: "It's not sexual abuse, it's rape", while others held up signs reading: "We believe you, sister."

Rallies also took place outside the justice ministry in Madrid, as well as in Barcelona, Bilbao, Alicante, Zaragoza, Santander and Seville.

Prominent politicians spoke out against the verdict, with Spanish Socialist Party leader Pedro Sanchez tweeting: "If what the 'wolf-pack' did wasn't group violence against a defenseless woman, then what do we understand by rape?"

Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias commented that the sentence was something "we thought belonged to another time."

National Police also showed their support for the victim, saying in a Tweet: "No is no - we are with you."

The case sparked widespread anger around Spain amid concern over increased reports of sex attacks at the annual festival and over the mistreatment of women in general.

It also drew international attention, coming at a time of heightened global concern over the sexual abuse of women in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency