Spain protests held after 5 cleared of rape in ‘wolf pack’ case in Pamplona

CNN — Protests were held across Spain after five men were convicted of sexual abuse but cleared of the gang rape of a teenage girl during the Running of the Bulls festival in Pamplona two years ago. Many protesters held placards declaring: “It is not abuse, it is rape.” Some added the hashtag “patriarchal justice.” The court in northern Spain’s Navarre region said the five men had been sentenced to nine years for “a continued crime of sexual abuse,” a lesser offense under Spanish law than the gang rape of which they were accused. According to court documents, WhatsApp messages circulated to the group by one of the defendants included “us five are ****ing one girl,” “there is more than what I’m telling you,” “a ***ing amazing trip” and “there is video.” The court heard that the men, who denied wrongdoing, “pushed” the girl into a deserted hallway and told her to “shut up” before all engaging in sexual activity with her. Announcing that authorities would look again at the country’s laws on sexual crimes, spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo insisted that “the government has been, is and always will be with the victims.” Defense Minister Maria Dolores de Cospedal earlier said she thought the sentence was “too little” and that legislation in this area “might have to be looked at.” “As a person, as a citizen, as a woman, it’s hard to come to terms with the content of the sentencing. “Five men pushing you inside the entrance of a house is enough intimidation to be considered rape and not sexual abuse.” She said the crowd gathered in front of the Ministry of Justice in Madrid and then marched to Spain’s Congress, where there was a sit-in.