[Lauchenoiria]

Kerlian News Service

International Edition

13-year-old accused of anti-matriarchal activity released
1st November 2019

The 13-year-old girl who spent six months in pre-trial detention after being accused of anti-matriarchal activity for her part in organising a school anti-torture protest has been released. The girl, who organised a placard-making session for a Teenagers Against Torture demonstration in April, has been released on the orders of President Arnott and all charges against her dropped. She is also expected to receive financial compensation from the government, and a formal apology.

The girl was on trial for anti-matriarchal activity when President Arnott issued the order. The court was expected to find the girl guilty, with an anticipated sentence of two years imprisonment. Councillor Carmen Robinson, in light of this incident, has called on her fellow Councillors to undertake an overhaul of anti-matriarchal activity legislation, while Councillor Jennifer Hale has called on the legislation to be scrapped entirely.

“It is completely inappropriate that the lives of young women and girls in this country, which claims to be a women’s paradise, are being ruined by accusations of anti-matriarchal activity,” Councillor Hale told KNS. “Anti-matriarchal activity has become a catch-all term for ‘anything the government disapproves of’ and that is why this law must be scrapped if we want to truly reform this nation. The case of this girl is a tragedy, and we must stop scarring our youth with imprisonment on false charges.”

However, Hale is the only Councillor who wishes to scrap the legislation entirely, with other Councillors supporting varying levels of amendments and reform. Councillors Robinson and Arnott wish to replace prosecuting anti-matriarchal activity with prosecuting pro-patriarchal activity: i.e., actively supporting a patriarchal system. Councillors Georgiou, Hart and Chiu have supported only prosecuting those who act against the matriarchy rather than solely criticism. The rest of the Council does not support any reform.

Former President Joanna Greenwood also faces possible prosecution over her role in illegally hiding the fact a teenager had been detained from President Arnott. Evidence has allegedly emerged that Joanna Greenwood, and Anita Patel, deliberately and knowingly violated the law in an effort to keep the girl in detention – although their motivation for doing so is unknown. President Arnott has also implied that the girl will be entitled to financial compensation over her ‘illegal’ imprisonment. No amount has been announced.