France considers American media attitudes towards rape suspects to be "barbaric", French law restricts media coverage of alleged perpetrators prior to conviction, including publication of images showing the accused in handcuffs, to preserve the dignity of the innocent.

mellowgreen · 2011-07-05T20:55:41+00:00

The important and interesting thing here is that they do not parade the accused in front of the press in handcuffs, and call him a "horny toad", and they release the name and photograph of his accuser, something that American media considers to be a terrible violation of the "victim" as they see it, not "accuser". A person is not a victim until a crime is proven.

Well, this article redacts the name, for the same reason, but I will not do so. The woman who ruined DSK's life is named Nafissatou Diallo, and this is her photograph: http://newyorkdaily247.com/media/k2/items/cache/aaa036e4cb16038f90e128d8e39c714f_XL.jpg

BolshevikMuppet · 2011-07-05T21:55:20+00:00

This aspect, while worrisome, bothers me less than how the rules of evidence are specifically and intentionally crafted to bitch-slap anyone accused of rape or child molestation. All of the rules which normally say "we won't let you use evidence of past actions to prove he did the current one" get thrown out the window when it comes to accused rapists.

Under rule 413, if I am on trial for rape, any accusation by another woman that I raped her in the same way I'm accused of raping the current accuser is admissible to prove my propensity to rape. Even if the prior accusation is baseless, even if it was never reported.

Yet, if I'm accused of embezzlement, that kind of "he did it before, so he did it this time" evidence is inadmissible.

redalastor · 2011-07-05T21:04:28+00:00

[permanently deleted]

2011-07-06T07:57:12+00:00

Let's split the difference. No photos of either, don't release the name of the accuser unless he or she gets convicted of perjury regarding the case, only release the name of the accused to next of kin of the accused unless his or her absence would be extremely conspicuous... like if he were as famous and busy as DSK.

The media circuses these days are ridiculous. It's disgusting.

misterdoctorproff · 2011-07-06T01:16:09+00:00

God bless the French.

NoSalt · 2011-07-06T14:54:19+00:00

I agree with this 100% Look at Strauss-Kahn, or the Duke Lacrosse players. Peoples lives are forever changed all on the word of some lying bitch. They should keep everything close to the vest until the case solidifies, and the accused goes to court.

2011-07-06T03:23:24+00:00

I don't support any laws restricting the free dissemination of information, but I do support the exercise of proper discretion on the part of media outlets in order to protect the lives and reputations of innocent people.

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