Q Manivannan apologises for 'abstract language' over 'rape is a spectrum' row

Opposition politicians and rape support groups have criticised the Edinburgh and Lothians East MSP in recent days for the comments, including their view that there “definitely is a demonisation of rape”.

Manivannan has now issued an apology for using “abstract language”, but said there has been a “complete mischaracterisation” of their comments which has caused their own trauma to return.

They said: “I am horrified that my comments were selectively edited in order to mislead people and misrepresent me, but I also accept that my language was abstract in the first place and for that I take full responsibility and I am sorry.

“During the interview, I categorically stated that rape in every context is equally serious and harmful. This section of the interview was maliciously left out of clips - with the rest being misrepresented and widely shared out of context, despite my repeated clarifications.

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“I also made the point that rapists do not fit a single stereotype and that many men are relatives or known to their victims.

“I recognise that the words in the clip shared, without the full context of the conversation, have caused considerable upset. For that I apologise. I will always stand with and for victims and survivors.”

They added rape and sexual violence can cause “profound pain, fear, hurt and trauma”, and added: “I know from my experience of surviving sexual violence and speaking about recovery how deeply those experiences can affect people, and this complete mischaracterisation of my words has now returned me to my trauma.

“I would never seek to diminish or dismiss any survivor’s experience, or to make anyone feel that their pain was not heard or understood.

“I am genuinely sorry to everyone who has been distressed, hurt or triggered by the clips, and by the discussion and coverage that has followed.

“Words matter, particularly when speaking about something as deeply personal and painful as sexual violence, and I regret this hurt caused.”

The comments were made in an interview with The Subjective Space podcast last year, where Manivannan said rapists are often thought of as “monsters” or as a “big burly man”, but that “any individual is capable of rape”.

The MSP added there “definitely is a demonisation of rape” and said it was “a spectrum, as much as I don’t seek to lighten any form of rape”.

The apology came just hours after the Scottish Conservatives called on Scottish Green co-leaders Ross Greer MSP and Gillian Mackay MSP to suspend the whip from Manivannan.

Meghan Gallacher MSP, the Conservatives’ equalities spokeswoman, said: “These remarks from an extremist Scottish Green MSP were appalling and beyond the pale.”

Reem Alsaleem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, also criticised Manivannan’s comments on social media.

Posting on X, she said: “There is no doubt that allegations of rape should be investigated swiftly and impartially to determine if rape as 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 bespoken of in those terms.

“Insinuations that acts of rape could fall on a spectrum, risk undermining the important progress we have made around the globe in criminalising 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 centre.”