Anti-paedophilia protest in Turin against release of shop assistant accused of child abuse
Around a dozen protesters from the organisation La Caramella Buona gathered outside Turin's courthouse against the release of a 42-year-old shop assistant accused of sexual violence against a 13-year-old.
Protest outside Turin courthouse over release of 42-year-old accused of violence against minor
According to ANSA Cronaca, around ten people gathered on Thursday outside Turin's courthouse to protest against the release of a 42-year-old shop assistant accused of sexual violence against a thirteen-year-old inside a minimarket in the Borgo Vittoria neighbourhood.
The protest was organised by the national anti-paedophilia association La Caramella Buona. Participants had travelled by car from Reggio Emilia, Modena and Parma.
Outside the courthouse, placards were displayed with slogans such as "Violence cannot be justified", "I abuse you and I'm sorry", "What if he does it again while free?" and "Free to do it again while awaiting trial". Provocatively, the protesters displayed a bottle of tequila — the 42-year-old had stated he had drunk tequila before the abuse — inviting journalists to drink.
"We are here because we are convinced that if we want a better society, we all need to commit ourselves and fight so that these aberrations of our institutionalised injustice do not happen again", said Roberto Mirabile, president and founder of the association. "Paedophiles and sexual harassers are highly recidivist, some magistrates and some lawyers need to understand this, and we all need to keep this firmly in mind."
Mirabile emphasised the social danger posed by perpetrators of such crimes once released: "They are people who are socially and highly dangerous if they are allowed to roam free in parks in front of schools. This is truly devastating and is a further violation, a further humiliation for victims, whether they are children or adults."
The president also referred to a similar case that occurred nine years ago in Reggio Emilia: "A recidivist paedophile abused a deaf-mute child, apologised to the judge and the judge released him with a reporting requirement. This is something we cannot accept."
Also present at the protest was Enzo Liardo, city councillor for Fratelli d'Italia in Turin.
Source: ANSA Cronaca