UN expert condemns Q Manivannan's suggestion rape is 'on a spectrum'

Q Manivannan, the Scottish Parliament’s first non-binary MSP, has sparked fury and condemnation for describing rape as being “on a spectrum”.

It comes after the Scottish Green MSP, who was elected in May, said on The Subjective Space podcast that there “definitely is a demonisation of rape” and there are “different modes” of consent. The podcast was recorded last year and has resurfaced on social media.

Manivannan said: “It is a spectrum, none of which is any less, or more, worse, but it is a spectrum of things that constitute that one homogenised word, rape. And I think there’s also different modes of not just consent, but also ideas, also contexts and conditions under which rape is, well, rape.”

Reem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women, said in a social media post that insinuating that acts of rape “could fall on a spectrum, risk undermining the important progress we have made around the globe in criminalising rape”.

Alsalem did not specifically refer to Manivannan in the post but said: “While victims of rape can be of any sex or age, rape continues to be committed on a wide scale against women and girls, and is therefore also a specific form of sex and gender-based violence against them.  

“There is no doubt that allegations of rape should be investigated swiftly and impartially to determine if rape has occurred; and that victims should be provided with access to effective, trauma-informed and victim-centred reporting, assistance and justice mechanisms.  

“However, that most certainly does not turn rape into a spectrum, nor should it ever be spoken of in those terms.”

She added: “ّInsinuations that acts of rape could fall on a spectrum, risk undermining the important progress we have made around the globe in criminalizing rape, which - as my mandate has argued- should cover rape against all persons, including marital rape and all acts of penetration of a sexual nature, with the lack of consent at its center. (which should include a rigorous analysis of the context in which consent may have been given or withheld).”

Scottish Rape Crisis Alliance (SRCA), which represents four Scottish rape centres, criticised Manivannan’s comments in an open letter, saying there is “no hierarchy of rape” and warning not to “minimise” sexual violence.

The alliance has also said it “fundamentally rejects the suggestion that society is demonising rape”.

The SRCA said: “We do not need to exaggerate its seriousness. We do not need to turn perpetrators into mythical monsters.

“But neither should we be afraid to say plainly that rape is horrific, that it causes profound trauma and harm, and that responsibility for that harm belongs with the person who chose to violate another person.”

Manivannan said: “Any suggestion that my statements minimise or excuse rape or sexual assault is deeply false and misleading. As a survivor of sexual violence, who has spoken openly about my recovery, I am clear that we need to focus on reducing the likelihood of perpetrators of rape re-offending.

“The point I made about demonisation was that not all rapists fit a stereotype, and that all kinds of men can and do commit it. The vast majority of sexual violence is from men who the victims know personally.

“Victims should be believed regardless of who the perpetrator was, and rapists should be punished in the strongest terms. When talking about a spectrum, I was making the point that laws often take a narrow definition of what rape and sexual violence is, which often allows it to continue without consequence.”

The Scottish Conservatives has called on the Scottish Greens to immediately suspend the whip from Manivannan.

The party's equalities spokeswoman Meghan Gallacher said: “These remarks from an extremist Scottish Greens MSP were appalling and beyond the pale.

“It is deeply alarming that anyone, but especially an elected representative, would ever seek to minimise the seriousness of rape and suggest that there is a spectrum of offences.

“Q Manivannan’s comments were so unacceptable that I believe Scottish Greens co-leaders Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay must now remove the whip from them.

“Any failure to do so would send a horrendous message to victims of rape that Q’s comments were in any way appropriate and run the risk of them saying something similar in the Holyrood chamber.

“We are used to extremist MSPs in the Greens making warped comments on a whole range of subjects, but this is a new low. These remarks cannot be brushed under the carpet, and I urge the Scottish Greens to remove the privilege of the whip from Q Manivannan.”

Reform UK has made similar calls, posting on social media: “Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay must suspend the whip from Q Manivannan immediately and investigate these abhorrent comments.”

The Scottish Greens have been contacted for comment.