The Paris court acquitted Lydia Hadjara on Thursday, who was being sued for defamation by Claude Vorilhon, better known as Raël. The former member of the Raëlian movement had publicly denounced sexual abuse she claims to have suffered within the organization between the 1980s and 2000s.
The proceedings began with the publication of a book in which Lydia Hadjara described the abuse she claimed to have suffered. The movement's founder, based in Japan, believed these accusations damaged his reputation and filed a lawsuit. The judges ultimately ruled that the author had acted in good faith in her statements.
A decision welcomed by supporters of the victims
Following the hearing, Lydia Hadjara reacted emotionally to the decision, explaining that she had found the proceedings particularly harrowing. Her lawyer emphasized that the judgment recognized the sincerity of her actions and the legitimacy of her speaking out about the alleged events.
This case comes as a separate complaint for sexual violence and acts of torture against a minor has been filed in Lyon against Claude Vorilhon and two other members of the movement. Several child protection associations denounced the proceedings as defamation, arguing that they could deter other alleged victims from speaking out publicly.
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