<\/a>Two Tunisian policemen have been sentenced to seven years in prison for raping a young woman in a case that has triggered angry protests.<\/p>\nThe woman, known as Meriem Ben Mohamed, said she was attacked after officers stopped her in a car with her fiance.<\/p>\n
The policemen denied the charges, saying they found the couple in an “immoral position”.<\/p>\n
Attempts to charge the couple with indecency led to public outcry.<\/p>\n
Tunisia’s President Moncef Marzouki offered a state apology to the woman, who was 27 at the time of the attack.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people have gathered outside a series of court hearings in Tunis to voice their support for her.<\/p>\n
The case comes amid renewed focus on women’s rights under Tunisia’s Islamist-led government.<\/p>\n
‘They insult me’<\/p>\n
The two policemen were convicted after being accused of raping the woman in a police car.<\/p>\n
A third officer tried to extort money from her fiance at a bank cash machine, according to reports. He was given a two-year prison sentence.<\/p>\n
The woman is said to have broken down in court on Monday after the policemen claimed she had tried to seduce them.<\/p>\n
Lawyers for Meriem Ben Mohamed told reporters they were disappointed with the verdicts, saying they were too lenient.<\/p>\n
Two Tunisian policemen have been sentenced to seven years in prison for raping a young woman in a case that has triggered angry protests.<\/p>\n
The woman, known as Meriem Ben Mohamed, said she was attacked after officers stopped her in a car with her fiance.<\/p>\n
The policemen denied the charges, saying they found the couple in an “immoral position”.<\/p>\n
Attempts to charge the couple with indecency led to public outcry.<\/p>\n
Tunisia’s President Moncef Marzouki offered a state apology to the woman, who was 27 at the time of the attack.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people have gathered outside a series of court hearings in Tunis to voice their support for her.<\/p>\n
The case comes amid renewed focus on women’s rights under Tunisia’s Islamist-led government.<\/p>\n
Meriem emerged from the courtroom crying on Monday afternoon, saying: “When I demand justice, they insult me”, according to AFP.<\/p>\n
Tunisia’s public prosecutor had earlier tried unsuccessfully to bring indecency charges against Meriem and her fiance, sparking a storm of protest.<\/p>\n
Activists outside the courtroom on Monday held placards saying: “Stand up for Meriem, stand up for Tunisian women”.<\/p>\n
A psychologist’s report, seen by AFP, said the ordeal had caused Meriem to suffer “depression aggravating a state of post-traumatic stress”.<\/p>\n
Secular Tunisians, especially women, are worried about the growing influence of ultra-conservative Islamists since the uprising that toppled President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.<\/p>\n
Following a tense campaign, the country’s new constitution includes a clause guaranteeing gender equality in legislative assemblies and puts a burden on the state to protect women against violence.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Two Tunisian policemen have been sentenced to seven years in prison for raping a young woman in a case that has triggered angry protests. The woman, known as Meriem Ben Mohamed, said she was attacked after officers stopped her in a car with her fiance. The policemen denied the charges, saying they found the couple […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":10109,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[14],"yoast_head":"\n
Tunisia policemen jailed for rape of 'Meriem' - Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n