PARIS (AP) — French women's organizations are decrying acquittals and lenient sentences for 14 men accused of gang raping two teenage girls more than a decade ago. Politicians have expressed disappointment and the prosecutor has promised to appeal.
On Thursday, a court in Creteil, outside Paris, sentenced four of the accused to prison terms, although most of the time was suspended. The longest term any will serve is a year.
That led to an outcry from women's organizations, which are demanding a government response to what they call a culture of impunity when it comes to rape.
The prosecutor's office for the Paris region said Friday it would appeal all four sentences and four of the acquittals, the Sipa news agency reported.
