More than 80% of Romanians believe that that the penalties for rape are too gentle and should be increased, according to a recent INSCOP survey. Some 12% think that the penalties are correct, and only 1.2% find them to be too harsh.

The survey was made after a rape case shocked Romania: seven young men from Vaslui county raped and tortured an 18-year-old girl for several hours in November 2014. The case became viral in the media and on social networks after some magistrates from Vaslui Court decided to let the young men free.

Initially arrested by the police three days after the rape, the court decided to release them in April this year and place them under house arrest. In June, the Vaslui Court replaced house arrest with judicial control. The seven rapists are currently in jail, following a court decision from August.

Related to this particular case, the study shows that 65.6% of Romanians believe that the young men are the only ones to blame for the rape, while almost a quarter of respondents think that the rapists and the victim share the blame in this case. 2.2% of Romanians say that the blame belongs only to the victim.

The study was conducted between September 10 and September 15 on a sample of more than 1,000 people.

Almost a third of Romanians do not feel safe in their country

More than half of Romanians believe that Romania should not receive refugees

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com