Coming to an America near you. Via the UK’s Daily Mail:
- The Arabic term ‘taharrush’ roughly translates to ‘collective harassment’
- It refers to sexual assaults carried out by groups of men in public places
- Surrounded by dozens of attackers, lone women are groped or raped
- The phenomenon was first seen in 2011 when a reporter was attacked
- Lara Logan endured an assault while reporting on the protests in Egypt
- Police say attacks in Cologne marked Europe’s first instance of taharrush
Police fear a gang-rape phenomenon known as ‘taharrush gamea’ in the Arab world and seen in attacks on women across German cities at the New Year has now spread to Europe.
The name of the practice translates to ‘collective harassment’ and is carried out by large groups of men who sexually assault lone women, either by groping, or in some instances, raping them.
The men first surround their victim in circles. Some then sexually assault her, while others not directly involved watch or divert outsiders’ attention to what is occurring.
