Spanish judge rejects harassment suit

A Spanish Judge has declined a woman’s harassment complaint against her ex-husband on the basis of her good education, saying that if she had really suffered during their 16-year marriage she would have reported it right away or sought counseling.

Women's advocacy groups voiced outage over Wednesday's ruling by a judge in the northern city of Valladolid, and Spain's ruling Socialist party asked a judicial oversight board to review it.

The plaintiff, a high school teacher whose name has not been released, filed the suit last month arguing that her husband subjected her to psychological harassment throughout their 16-year marriage. They separated three years ago.

Judge Jose Luis Chamorro, who heads a court specializing in gender violence cases, cast doubt on the woman's claims.

He said he found it "surprising" that a woman with her level of education would put up with that alleged treatment for so many years without reporting it or seeing a psychiatrist, and "curious" that she is filing suit now, years after the marriage fell apart.

Rocio Mielgo, president of the Association of Victims of Sexual Aggression and Mistreatment, said the ruling is unacceptable because it suggests that only "if you are from a lower class or have little education can you be mistreated."

The ruling Socialist party's top official on sexual equality issues, Maribel Montano, called the judge's arguments "worrisome" and asked a body that acts as watchdog for the Spanish judicial system to review the sentence.