A shocking case of a gang rape of a 16-year-old girl in Rio de Janeiro has sparked nationwide protests after two of the alleged rapists filmed the attack and posted it on Twitter, reports BBC.
Replete with boisterous comments and obscene descriptions of her body, the tweets had photos and videos of the girl, who was apparently drugged, naked and struggling to regain consciousness.
And the disturbing part? The tweet resulted in over 550 likes and positive responses including smiley faces and thumbs-ups. The video was widely shared and came with by a wave of misogynistic comments, before the users’ accounts were suspended.
According to the girl’s statement to police, she had gone to her boyfriend’s house on Saturday and says she woke up in a different house, surrounded by the men, naked and injured the next day.
It was on Tuesday that she was alerted to the video of her that was circulating online. After the incident, police are attempting to catch the 30 alleged rapists, including her boyfriend.
The heinous sexual assault has now provoked a campaign against what is being called a culture of rape in Brazil. Campaigners have also called for more protests in the coming days.
#Brazil #rape Big protests are being organized. https://t.co/8cPEtAz0W3
— Wies Ubags (@wiesubags) May 27, 2016
Users also tweeted their anger under the hashtag #EstuproNuncaMais (Rape never again).
@BBCWorld @BBCNews a “culture” of rape. What a shame that this phrase even exists. #EstuproNuncaMais (Rape never again)
— BrilliantBeastBlog (@beastbelowthbar) May 27, 2016
This hashtag is just too sad. “Rape Never Again” #EstuproNuncaMais Rapists must be castrated & put in prison forever
— Letti (@Letti4U) May 27, 2016
This happened in my country, and it is NOT ok. Help us #SayNoToRape #EstuproNuncaMais https://t.co/t13MVKxQNN
— Bruna Zanin (@bruzanin) May 27, 2016
It’s our job to make this 16 year old girl feel safe again. I’m so sorry and sad#EstuproNuncaMais pic.twitter.com/N6BvyASfjm
— Evy (@witchcraftev) May 27, 2016
#EstuproNuncaMais I believe in the social political and economic equality of the sexes! pic.twitter.com/67CSonBR73
— joao (@secretIoversong) May 27, 2016
In Brazil, a woman is raped every 11 minutes, according to data released by the Brazilian Forum on Public Security. In 2015 alone, the country recorded 47,646 cases of rape.