Indian Judge Tells Sexual Assault Victim "Not Like an Indian Woman"... Women's Groups 'Outraged'

"Why didn't you refuse to drink with the suspect?"
"The explanation that she fell asleep after being sexually assaulted is not typical of an Indian woman."

A judge of a high court in India has faced public backlash for telling a woman who claimed to be a victim of sexual assault, "Why were you with the suspect until morning?" and saying, "You are not behaving like an Indian woman." The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A judge at a high court in India has faced public backlash after telling a woman who claimed to be a victim of sexual assault, "Why were you with the suspect until morning?" and saying she was "not like an Indian woman."

According to the British BBC on the 2nd (local time), Krishna Dixit, a judge at the Karnataka High Court, granted bail to a man charged with rape last week, while questioning the woman who claimed to be the victim: "Why did you go to the office at 11 p.m.? Why did you not refuse to drink with the suspect? Why were you with the suspect until morning?"

Judge Dixit said, "The explanation that (the victim) was tired and fell asleep after being raped is not like an Indian woman," adding, "This is not how Indian women respond when faced with the threat of sexual assault."

These remarks by Judge Dixit have caused an uproar among Indian women's groups. The Indian public is angry, asking, "Is there a 'rulebook' or 'guideline' that defines sexual assault victims?"

On Indian online communities, illustrations mocking Judge Dixit are spreading, titled "The ideal sexual assault victim as seen by an Indian judge."

In recent years, an illustration titled "Guidelines from Indian Judges on How to Be an Ideal Rape Survivor," which includes remarks by Judge Dixit along with statements made by Indian judges to women who were victims of sexual assault, has been circulating online in India. Photo by 'penpencildraw' Instagram capture.

Lawyer Aparna Bhatt urged the Chief Justice of India and three female Supreme Court judges to intervene. She stated, "Judge Dixit's remarks show the worst misogyny," and "Not condemning such rulings is tantamount to condoning them."

Madu Bushan, a women's rights activist in Bangalore, where the Karnataka High Court is located, called Judge Dixit's remarks "shocking and absolutely unacceptable." She said that Dixit's comments undermine the seriousness of violence against women.

Bushan emphasized, "It is absurd to dictate how women should behave. Such judgments have nothing to do with the law and merely judge women's behavior."

Additionally, along with dozens of civil rights activists, actors, singers, writers, and journalists, an open letter was sent to Justice Dixit stating, "Your remarks normalize sexual violence and impose the idea that sexual assault victims are at fault," and "Why prejudge when the sexual assault claim has not been proven false? This is not the conduct expected of a high court judge."

Meanwhile, in India, the brutal gang rape and subsequent death of a young woman on a Delhi city bus in December 2012 sparked massive protests and drew worldwide media attention.