A Tanzanian police commander has been moved from her position after making controversial remarks about a gang-rape victim, BBC reports.
Theopista Mallya, the police chief in Dodoma, linked the victim to sex work in her comments, which sparked widespread backlash.
The controversy began after a video showing a young woman being assaulted went viral. Mallya was quoted as saying the woman “appeared to be engaged in sex work,” which many felt downplayed her suffering.
In response to the criticism, Tanzania’s national police apologized and announced Mallya’s transfer to the police headquarters.
The victim, from Yombo Dovya in Dar es Salaam, was reportedly forced to apologize to someone referred to as “afande,” a term often used for police or soldiers.
Mallya clarified that the suspects were not acting on orders but were under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The four suspects charged with gang rape have pleaded not guilty and remain in custody.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3vxdw34z7zo