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Narjas Zatat
Nov 15, 2018

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iStock and Twitter screengrab
Women around the world are posting pictures of their underwear on Twitter to protest a decision by an Irish court to acquit a 27-year-old man of rape after a trial in which a teenager’s thong was used as evidence.
A Cork jury took an hour and a half deliberating on 6 November before finding the defendant not guilty of raping a 17-year-old girl.
Defence barrister Elizabeth O’Connell asked jurors to take into account the underwear the 17-year-old girl was wearing.
"Does the evidence out-rule the possibility that she was attracted to the defendant and was open to meeting someone and being with someone?” the Irish Examiner reports O’Connell stating.
You have to look at the way she was dressed. She was wearing a thong with a lace front.
Women took to social media to protest this, arguing that the barrister had engaged in victim-blaming. It doesn’t matter what a woman is wearing, they argue, clothes have nothing to do with consent.
Using the hashtag #ThisIsNotConsent, women shared pictures of their underwear.
Most of my underwear has lace on it. This doesn’t mean I want to be raped. No matter what I wear, no means no!!… https://t.co/BzhHrj5bNz— Clàudia 🎗 (@Clàudia 🎗) 1542229667
To use a pair of a 17 year olds underwear, against her, at her own rape trial is disgusting! #IBelieveHer… https://t.co/X3cQoGc5Hb— Leanne Byrne (@Leanne Byrne) 1542229504
Counsel for man acquitted of rape suggested jurors should reflect on underwear worn by the 17yo complainant. Follow… https://t.co/FGb1pfCVHK— I Believe Her - Ireland (@I Believe Her - Ireland) 1541874944
Jurors in Cork were asked to consider the underwear a SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL was wearing when she was raped by a 2… https://t.co/99svy4wUxU— 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚗𝚎𝚢 𝙿𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗 (@𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚗𝚎𝚢 𝙿𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗) 1542113455
I hear cameras cut away from me when I displayed this underwear in #Dáil. In courts victims can have their underwea… https://t.co/y7MtRT96Sv— Ruth Coppinger (@Ruth Coppinger) 1542120501
Lacy but full or thong but not lacy, need someone to tell me which is less rapey... #ThisIsNotConsent https://t.co/jiA61qF7gB— maireos (@maireos) 1542102455
#ThisIsNotConsent Just beacuse my panties are cute doesn't mean i'm saying yes #ThisIsNotConsent https://t.co/rakf2HXQNv— Em (@Em) 1542076845
Susan Dillon, one of the women who started the hashtag, and member of the campaign group I Believe Her, told BuzzFeed News:
Simply put, clothing is not consent. This kind of victim blaming is archaic and had no place in our court system.
We wanted something impactful that would draw attention to the issue hence the use of underwear.
Crowds of people turned up on the streets of Ireland to protest, chanting “clothes are not consent".
Crowd is chanting that 'clothes are not #consent': the sense of solidarity, belief and conviction for change is pal… https://t.co/CD9GlsydEF— It Stops Now (@It Stops Now) 1542203170
Protest in Dublin against victim blaming in the courts. Huge crowd for a lunchtime last minute protest. #consent… https://t.co/oOL54EgKPa— Kate O'Sullivan 🇵🇸 (@Kate O'Sullivan 🇵🇸) 1542201474
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