“The world is collapsing before us. It’s a slap in the face for my child and all the other victims who experienced something like that,” said the devastated mother of a 12-year-old girl at the center of several rape trials in Vienna involving Syrian migrants.
Her emotional reaction followed the acquittal of a 17-year-old Syrian defendant accused of sexually assaulting her daughter.
As Remix News previously reported, the schoolgirl met the defendant through Snapchat and was led to a parking lot in the Austrian capital where prosecutors argued she was coerced into performing oral sex on the Syrian teen, despite her repeated refusals. They cited the fact the defendant had pushed her head towards his genitalia and later called the girl a “whore” in messages seen by the court as evidence of manipulation and force.
However, the Vienna Regional Court ruled that there was insufficient proof of violence, acquitting the defendant of rape. The judge stated that while the victim may have felt pressured, the evidence did not conclusively demonstrate that force or threats were used. “He could assume that she did this voluntarily,” the judge said, sparking widespread condemnation.
Speaking to Heute, the heartbroken mother recounted the toll the case has taken on her family. “My daughter doesn’t deserve this,” she stated through tears in the courtroom. She described how the schoolgirl now struggles with severe emotional and physical symptoms, including stomach cramps, depression, and anxiety, which have left her bedridden and withdrawn from the world.
The mother, undeterred by the verdict, vowed to continue seeking justice. She expressed disbelief at the court’s interpretation of consent, stating, “If she says no three times and in the end goes along with it out of fear, that apparently can’t be condemned.”
The defense’s offer of €100 as a “gesture of goodwill” added further fuel to public outrage, with many viewing it as an insult to the victim and her family.
BREAKING: 🇦🇹 A 17-year-old Syrian WALKS FREE after raping a 12-year-old girl in Austria.
The judge ruled there was insufficient proof that the schoolgirl didn't consent despite being just 12.
The migrant gave the girl €100 after the verdict as a "gesture of goodwill." pic.twitter.com/4KClVrCcc1
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) January 7, 2025The trial was just one of several involving alleged abuse endured by the victim by a number of Syrian migrants, all of a similar age. While over a dozen minors and one 19-year-old remain under scrutiny, separate proceedings have already led to another acquittal at the beginning of December. In that instance, the regional court determined that the 16-year-old defendant’s intercourse with the schoolgirl was “completely consensual” and involved no violence.
The victim’s mother expressed hope that ongoing investigations into other suspects will result in stronger outcomes.
The case has ignited a broader discussion about Austria’s handling of sexual violence cases involving minors.
“My daughter’s life has been shattered, but I will not stop until justice is served,” the mother added.
