New Attention Brought To 13-Year-Old Rape Case

A rape case that took place over 13 years ago has been generating a lot of attention this week after the victim Guðný Jóna Kristjánsdóttir’s appeared Kastljós.
At age 17, Guðný Jóna Kristjánsdóttir pressed charges against a classmate who raped her. Sighvatur Karlsson, a priest in Húsavik, tried to encourage her to drop the charges shortly after the crime was committed, and 113 people in her town signed a statement in support of the convicted rapist.
The community turned on Guðný Jóna Kristjánsdóttir to the point where she felt pressured to leave Húsavik after being harassed by members of the North Icelandic community.
Her recent interview on Kastljós has sparked remorseful feelings from the community members as well as an apology from the priest who previously counseled her against pressing charges.
She is now speaking publicly for the first time about her experience in hopes of helping young women in similar situations.