A 13-year-old girl was subjected to a horrific gang rape after being dragged into the toilets of a KFC restaurant in central Paris, according to reports from French media.
Details of the Attack
The teenager was with friends in the bustling Chatelet-Les Halles district of the French capital on Monday evening when the incident unfolded. At around 10:45pm, she was reportedly led away by a group of men to the fast-food outlet located within the Forum des Halles shopping centre. It was there, in the restaurant's toilets, that she was allegedly raped by four individuals.
The ordeal came to light when a passerby found the distressed victim. After hearing her account, the individual immediately alerted the police. The girl was then able to identify her alleged attackers to officers at the scene, leading to the swift arrest of four men aged between 18 and 24.
Investigation and Aftermath
The suspects have been detained on suspicion of the rape of a minor under 15 years of age and are facing questioning by the specialised Juvenile Protection Unit. Local news outlet Entrevue reported on the arrests.
The young victim has since received both medical and psychological support following the traumatic alleged incident. An official investigation is now underway, with authorities examining CCTV footage from the shopping centre to piece together the events. If convicted, the four accused men could face prison sentences of up to 20 years.
The Context of Sexual Violence in France
This appalling case has once again cast a spotlight on the serious issue of sexual violence in France. Recent official data suggests such crimes have been increasing over the years.
An annual survey by the French government's Ministerial Statistical Service for Internal Security (SSMSI) gathers crime data. Its 2023 report, cited by Le Monde, found that 270,000 women declared themselves victims of sexual violence, including rape and assault, in that year. Furthermore, in 2022, approximately 1.14 million women reported suffering non-physical sexual violence, such as harassment and indecent exposure.
National conversation around this topic was galvanised by the high-profile trial of Gisèle Pelicot in Avignon. The 72-year-old waived her anonymity to prosecute her ex-husband and 50 other men for rape and sexual assault, sparking widespread protests against gender-based violence.
