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Rape victim asked by judge if she tried 'closing her legs' in Spain Rape victim asked by judge if she tried 'closing her legs' in Spain
(about 3 hours later)
A judge who asked a rape victim whether she had tried "closing her legs" is the subject of a campaign to have her suspended. A judge who allegedly asked a rape victim whether she had tried "closing her legs" is the subject of a campaign to have her suspended.
Judge Maria del Carmen Molina Mansilla, a magistrate in the Basque Country in Spain, has been accused of "offensive questioning" of a woman who was describing how she was sexually and physically abuse. The magistrate, in the Basque Country in Spain, has been accused of "offensive questioning" of a woman who was describing how she was sexually and physically abuse.
In response, the Clara Camoamor Association, a campaign group for victims of gender crime, has said the judge showed a clear prejudice towards disbelieving the victim. In response, the Clara Camoamor Association, a campaign group for victims of gender crime, has claimed the judge's remarks showed a clear prejudice towards disbelieving the victim.
"She showed obvious disbelief of the testimony of the victim, questioned her without allowing her to answer, asking leading and offensive questions,"  Blance Estrella Ruiz of the Clara Campoamor Association said, according to The Local."She showed obvious disbelief of the testimony of the victim, questioned her without allowing her to answer, asking leading and offensive questions,"  Blance Estrella Ruiz of the Clara Campoamor Association said, according to The Local.
The unnamed woman arrived at her local police station in Vitoria to make a complaint against a man who has reportedly abused her sexually and physically. The unnamed woman arrived at her local police station in Vitoria to make a complaint that a man repeatedly abused her sexually and physically.
When she made a statement in front of Judge Monsilla, the judge reportedly asked her: "Did you close your legs and all your female organs?" When she made a statement, the judge reportedly asked her: "Did you close your legs and all your female organs?"
Ms Ruiz, whose group is now seeking for the judge to be suspended, said the incident was not the first time that the judge had made light of a victim's allegations. Ms Ruiz, whose group is now seeking for the judge to be suspended, said the incident was not the first time that the judge had appeared to make light of a victim's allegations.
"Such questions are not only unnecessary to the investigation but are completely offensive and violate the dignity of the victim," she said, according to The Local."Such questions are not only unnecessary to the investigation but are completely offensive and violate the dignity of the victim," she said, according to The Local.
"Unfortunately this is not an isolated act but such behaviour [by this judge] is habitual and continuous.""Unfortunately this is not an isolated act but such behaviour [by this judge] is habitual and continuous."
Spain, meanwhile, has one of the lowest rates of victim assault in Europe, yet the problem remains serious with one in five women believed to be victims of assault. Spain has one of the lowest rates of victim assault in Europe, yet the problem remains serious with one in five women believed to be victims of assault.