A young woman was reportedly assaulted and sexually attacked by a man on a train in Paris before a courageous passenger came to her rescue upon hearing her cries for help.
Video footage captured the distressing moment when Jhordana Dias, a 26-year-old woman from Brazil, pleaded for assistance as her alleged assailant gestured towards the intervening woman before fleeing when the train stopped. The video, showing Jhordana’s desperate pleas, sparked widespread outrage after being shared by French newspaper Le Parisien.
The incident occurred on October 16 in the morning between Choisy-le-Roi and Villeneuve-le-Roi stations on Line C of the Réseau Express Régional (RER) train. The man reportedly boarded the train as the doors were closing, targeting Jhordana, who was alone at the time. Reflecting on the event, Jhordana expressed her fear upon realizing she was likely to be attacked as the man entered.
According to Jhordana, the suspect sat beside her and initiated a violent assault, with Jhordana enduring an attempted rape. Recalling the ordeal, she recounted how she resisted his advances while he continued to force her down onto the seat, kissing her without her consent and resorting to physical violence.
The victim’s cries prompted a brave woman from another carriage to step in, filming the suspect with her phone, causing him to flee the scene. Jhordana immediately contacted her brother, Cicero Junior, who has been residing in France for six years, detailing the traumatic experience that had left her fighting for survival.
Upon Cicero’s arrival at the station, it was discovered that the police had been alerted, but the suspect had managed to escape. Despite initial police assistance, the family later felt neglected in their pursuit of justice.
Concerned that her injuries would heal before a scheduled forensic examination on October 29, Jhordana sought the aid of a private doctor who documented her injuries, validating her account of the assault. The suspect remains unidentified, shedding light on the ongoing safety issues faced by women on public transportation in France.
Recent statistics reveal that seven out of ten women in the Île-de-France region, encompassing Paris, have experienced some form of sexual violence while using public transport, as reported by the National Observatory on Violence Against Women.
For those in need of confidential support, the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line can be reached at 0808 500 2222, or access to chat and interpretation services is available online.
