Italian court: Virgin sex victims suffer more

[Clarkie1]

Friday, February 17, 2006; Posted: 7:10 p.m. EST (00:10 GMT)

ROME, Italy (Reuters) -- Sexually abusing a teenager is less serious a crime if the girl is not a virgin, Italy's higher court said on Friday in a controversial ruling that immediately drew a barrage of criticism.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/02/17/italy.abuse.reut/index.html

[Maddy McCall]

1. Hard to believe that Italy was the birthplace of the Renaissance.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. well, yes

in a way, in that there may, just possibly, mind, be more tearing and physical injury. Also, there is a psychic and psychological trauma when it comes to sexual assault. I could see a virgin, having not known anything of sex before, become totally sexually disfunctional if her first sexual experience was a rape.

This is in no way belittling what happens if a non-virgin is raped. That kind of trauma is very lasting; some women never get over it.

[varkam]

5. I think that's best left up to...

individual cases, and not a stricter punishment to be handed down across every case. That sends the impression that *all* non-virgins are fine with it, and *all* virgins are horribly scarred for life - both of which are just not true in every case.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

10. I'll agree with you there

the punishments meted out should be on an individual basis.

[varkam]

3. Oh Italy.

If your politicians aren't claiming to be Jesus Christ, then you're saying non-virgin sex victims were asking for it. What will you crazy folks do next?

[Solly Mack]

4. disgusting

[legally blonde]

6. WTF?

A rape victim is a rape victim, regardless of her past sexual experience. This is horrifying.

[JuniperLea]

8. You said it!

There is no such thing as a little bit raped!

FCOL!

Next they will say if you aren't a virgin your can't press charges.

[Vidar]

7. Send the judge to Iran.

[dsc]

9. Gee and I thought Alito and Scalia were bad

apparently the judges who stay in Italy are vastly worse. This isn't even justifyable on the basis of physical tearing as this sexual assult was oral.

[Auntie Bush]

11. Report him to O'Liely.