The Court of Appeal (Landsréttur), an appellate court in Iceland, has acquitted a man previously convicted of rape, reversing a lower-court decision. The Court of Appeal’s judgment considered, among other things, communications between the parties involved in the case, according to Vísir.
The decision has provoked strong criticism from the public and advocacy groups. In response, a petition was launched demanding an independent review of how sexual-offence cases are handled in Iceland, Vísir reported.
Thousands have signed the petition in recent days, with RÚV reporting that more than eight thousand people have added their names. The petition calls for an external review of procedures and outcomes in sexual violence cases.
A spokesperson for Stígamót, a centre for survivors of sexual violence, told RÚV that it is natural that people feel disgusted by the Court of Appeal’s judgment (translated).
Background
The Court of Appeal, known in Icelandic as Landsréttur, hears appeals from all district court cases in Iceland. It was established by the Courts Act of 2016 and began operating on 1 January 2018. The court has fifteen justices who are selected by the Qualifications Committee and nominated by the Minister of Justice for confirmation by the president. Any changes to committee selections must be approved by Icelandic parliament with a simple majority vote.
Sources
- Vísir (first reported) in Icelandic
- RÚV in Icelandic
