Salim Berrada, also known as the ‘Tinder rapist’, has been sentenced to nineteen years in prison by a Paris court. The 38-year-old photographer is accused of raping or sexually assaulting approximately seventeen women between 2014 and 2016. He met his victims through dating apps, including Tinder.
The public prosecutor on Thursday called him “an insatiable egocentric hunter” and demanded a strict sentence. The maximum prison sentence for rape is twenty years, but the court decided to give Berrada an additional year for his refusal to accept responsibility for his actions.
Berrada himself continues to deny that he has abused women. According to him, the relationships were consensual and some claims were completely fabricated. However, the evidence presented in court proved otherwise, leading to his conviction. He will be given the floor one last time on Friday, after which a statement is expected.
The trial has gained significant public attention, with many people closely following the proceedings. Civil parties, many of them young women in their twenties, have shown up in large numbers to support the victims and demand justice. The impact of this trial on online dating safety and the responsibility of dating apps in screening users will likely be discussed in the coming days. The outcome of this trial will also have implications for future cases involving sexual assault and rape facilitated through online platforms.