LAST UPDATE | 15 Jul

POLICE IN NORTHERN Ireland are investigating graffiti in Belfast targeting French rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot.

The graffiti, which expresses support for one of the men who raped her, is being treated as a hate crime.

Police said it appeared in multiple locations in the Sandy Row area of south Belfast.

Although this has since been painted over, the investigation is continuing, and police suspect it was a “racially-motivated hate crime”.

“There is no place in our society for this type of intimidating behaviour and we will continue to engage with local representatives and partner agencies around community safety,” a spokesperson said.

“We know the people of south Belfast will rightly condemn this disgraceful attack.”

The PSNI appealed to anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the area, or who may have relevant doorbell camera, CCTV, or other footage, to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 649 of 14/07/26.

Reports can also be made online or in confidence through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Pelicot’s ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, was jailed for 20 years for drugging and raping her and allowing other men to rape her while she was unconscious, in abuse that lasted nearly a decade.

Some 51 men, including her ex-husband, were all found guilty of rape or sexual offences.

The 73-year-old, who waived her right to anonymity as a survivor of sexual abuse, said shame should fall on her abusers, not her.

On Monday, graffiti was sprayed in Belfast’s Sandy Row targeting Gisèle and expressing support for her ex-husband Dominique.

‘Common’ attitudes

SDLP leader and Belfast MP Claire Hanna said the incident cannot be “dismissed as just graffiti”.

“This isn’t ‘just graffiti’. It reflects attitudes that are still far too common and far too often shrugged off,” said Hanna.

“When misogyny is normalised in public spaces it tells women and girls something about what is tolerated.

“When it’s mixed with racist abuse it becomes an attempt to intimidate whole sections of our community. We should never minimise that or look the other way.”

Hanna remarked that Gisèle Pelicot has become an “international symbol of dignity and courage in the face of unimaginable abuse”.

“Millions of people have drawn strength from her example. To respond by celebrating her abuser is as disturbing as it is cowardly.”

The SDLP leader added that “too many women still experience harassment, abuse and violence, and too many people from minority communities continue to face racism”.

“That doesn’t happen in isolation. It starts with attitudes that are normalised, excused or dismissed.”

Hanna said “misogyny, racism and hate have no place in Belfast or anywhere else” and added that we “all have a responsibility to challenge those attitudes wherever we see them”.