Influencers ‘filmed themselves gangraping girl, 16, and posted it on social media’
A group of social media ‘influencers’ are accused of raping a 16-year-old girl in a case that has sent shockwaves through Portugal.
The assault, which took place in the city of Loures, a district of Lisbon, was filmed and then shared online for more than 32,000 people to watch but no one reported it to authorities.
Three young men, aged between 17 and 19, were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, aggravated rape and child pornography, but have since been released.
The case has sparked national outrage and prompted desperate calls for a tougher stance on the handling of violence against women and girls, and digital abuse in Portugal.
What is alleged about the case?
The attack is alleged to have taken place in a storage room in Loures, near the victim’s home, in February, Diário de Notícias news outlet reported.
She had arranged to meet one of the men, who was a friend of hers, but he did not arrive alone.
A police statement cited by the newspaper said he was ‘accompanied by friends, unknown to the victim, who in a group context forced the victim to engage in sexual acts and filmed the acts, against her will, and released them on social media.’
What happened only reached authorities after a report from the Beatriz Ângelo Hospital, in Loures.
What is know about the trio of influencers?
Their names have not been revealed to the media, but it is understood that they have been circulating online for some time, with more pressure being put on police to release their identities.
One of them is understood to be an influencer with 250,000 followers on TikTok and another 65,000 on Instagram.
Portuguese media identified them as ‘influencers who already have a very significant audience’.
João Oliveira, head of Lisbon’s police department, said it was because of ‘the scope of the suspects’ power of influence’ among younger audiences that this situation occurred with this victim’, who was said to be a ‘follower’.
Public outrage following their release
The court’s controversial decision to release the three men has resulted in somewhat of an uprising in several Portuguese cities and towns.
They were released after appearing in court and are only required to report to the police weekly and are banned from contacting the victim.
Hundreds of people demonstrated over the weekend in Lisbon and the city of Funchal, in Madeira, including various members of political parties.
They chanted the slogan ‘no means no’ and held up banners reading ‘Rape is not filmed, it is condemned’ and ‘Don’t share, denounce!’ in reference to the complete lack of action by those who watched the video of the attack.
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