By A recent court ruling in Italy has ignited widespread fury and debate after a man was cleared of groping an air hostess, with the judge citing the victim’s 20-second reaction time as “too long”. This controversial decision has raised serious questions about the country’s approach to sexual assault cases and women’s rights.
The case involves Raffaele Meola, a former trade union official, who was accused of sexually assaulting a female airline worker in March 2018. The incident allegedly occurred when the woman visited Meola’s offices in Malpensa, northern Italy, seeking assistance with an industrial dispute.
The Milan Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit Meola follows a similar verdict from a 2022 trial, both suggesting that the woman’s reaction to the alleged assault was not sufficiently prompt. This reasoning has sparked outrage among women’s rights advocates and the victim’s legal team, who argue that the ruling sets a dangerous precedent and contradicts established legal standards.
The victim’s lawyer has vowed to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, stating that “this sentence takes us back 30 years.” They emphasized that the ruling contradicts Supreme Court precedent, which has consistently held that sudden sexual acts without clear consent constitute sexual violence.
Despite the controversy, the president of the judging panel, Nicoletta Guerrero, maintained that while “the victim was believed,” there was insufficient evidence to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.
Details from the previous trial revealed that Meola allegedly touched, kissed, and massaged the woman from behind for about 30 seconds while she “continued to browse and read documents without expressing dissent.” The court’s interpretation of this behavior as potentially leading Meola to “misperceive his colleague’s will” has been met with severe criticism.
The victim herself has questioned the court’s logic, asking, “Doesn’t a woman have the right to remain petrified and paralyzed in the face of harassment?” This sentiment echoes the concerns of many who argue that shock or fear can often lead to delayed reactions in such situations.
Women’s rights organizations have been vocal in their condemnation of the verdict. Elisa Ercoli, president of the group Differenza donna, has called for an “urgent” overhaul of Italy’s sexual assault laws, arguing that the current system “causes serious and continuous institutional violence.”
This case has reignited debates about the treatment of sexual assault victims in the Italian legal system and the broader societal attitudes towards such incidents. As the case potentially moves to the Supreme Court, it continues to draw attention to the challenges faced by victims of sexual assault and the ongoing struggle for women’s rights in Italy.
The controversy surrounding this ruling underscores the need for a comprehensive review of how sexual assault cases are handled in the Italian justice system, with many calling for reforms that better protect victims and ensure fair treatment in court.
