Topless activists protest against rape

Tunisians take part in a demonstration to protest violence against women in front of a court in Tunis where a young Tunisian woman, allegedly raped by two policemen, was due alongside her fiance facing charges of indecency, in a case that has sparked outrage in the north African country.

Tunisians take part in a demonstration to protest violence against women in front of a court in Tunis where a young Tunisian woman, allegedly raped by two policemen, was due alongside her fiance facing charges of indecency, in a case that has sparked outrage in the north African country.

Published Oct 3, 2012

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Members of the topless protest movement Femen rallied at the Louvre Museum in Paris on Wednesday and hung a sign on the Venus de Milo in support of a Tunisian woman allegedly raped by two policemen.

Seven members of the group founded in Ukraine stripped off their tops - slogans such as “NO = NO” painted on their torsos - and stepped inside the barrier around the ancient Greek statue.

They hung a sign on the statue reading: “Rape me I am immoral”, in reference to the young Tunisian woman facing possible indecency charges in connection with the rape.

Standing before the arm-less statue, the women chanted: “We have hands to stop rape” as tourists snapped away with their cameras.

After a few minutes, a member of staff arrived and removed their sign. The women left quickly without incident.

Protest organiser Inna Shevchenko, a 22-year-old who recently fled to France from Ukraine fearing persecution after cutting down a cross with a chainsaw, led six French women in the protest.

“We're here to... demand justice against rapists,” Shevchenko said as she headed towards the exit.

The 27-year-old Tunisian woman is facing indecency charges with her fiance based on the testimony of the alleged rapists, policemen who say they took the couple by surprise in an “immoral position” just before the attack purportedly took place. - AFP

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