Outrage Sweeps Italy as School Janitor Accused of Groping Student is Found Not Guilty Due to Brief Duration

Olufemi Odeyemi writes: A recent court ruling in Italy has sparked considerable outrage after a school janitor was acquitted of sexual assault charges against a student. The decision, made by judges from the fifth criminal section of the Court of Rome, stated that the accused, a 66-year-old man, was not guilty because the incident lasted only "about five to ten seconds." This verdict, broadcasted by Italian state broadcaster RAI, has left many questioning the justice system and advocating for change.

According to RAI reports, the incident occurred in April 2022 when the victim, a 17-year-old girl at the time, was climbing the staircase with a friend at school. In her testimony, the girl explained that she felt a hand touching her buttocks, hidden inside her trousers and beneath her briefs. The judgment, issued on July 6, stated that the janitor apparently dismissed it as a joke, saying, "Love, you know I was joking," as recounted by the teenager.

During the trial, the janitor admitted that he had indeed touched the student, but claimed it was intended as a harmless, clumsy joke with no lewd intentions towards the girl. Astonishingly, the judges accepted this defense argument, ruling that the act was not sexually motivated and therefore did not constitute sexual assault.

This decision has sparked widespread outrage among students and has gone viral on social media platforms. The 'Rete degli Studenti Medi del Lazio,' a local union representing high school students, voiced their condemnation on Facebook, stating that there is nothing funny or acceptable about such behavior. They expressed their disappointment with the patriarchal system's triumph and its apparent support from institutions and politics. The union firmly declared that this model does not represent them and affirmed their commitment to fighting for a safe society based on respect.

In a powerful response to the ruling, Italians have taken to Instagram and TikTok, posting videos where they touch a sensitive part of their body for 10 seconds, as marked by a timer. The objective of these videos is to highlight that 10 seconds is a significant amount of time, which can make people uncomfortable and drastically impact someone's life. The accompanying hashtags #10secondi and #palpatabreve (brief groping) have emerged as platforms for solidarity and raising awareness on this issue.

Prominent individuals from various fields have also joined the social media movement.