Now UN expert berates Green MSP Q Manivannan and insists
'rape is not a spectrum'

By TOM GORDON, SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 19:45, 10 August 2026 | Updated: 19:45, 10 August 2026 The United Nations expert on violence against women and girls has denounced a claim by a Green MSP that rape is a ‘spectrum’ of offences. UN Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem said rape should not ‘ever be spoken of in those terms’ as it risked ‘undermining important progress’ in criminalising it worldwide. Ms Alsalem, who has previously given evidence to Holyrood, added to the growing backlash against Q Manivannan for saying there had been a ‘demonisation’ of rape. A powerful coalition of rape crisis centres yesterday warned ‘there is no hierarchy of rape’ and survivors should never have to ask themselves: ‘Was my rape serious enough?’ Manivannan yesterday insisted the words were taken out of context and apologised for the ‘abstract’ language causing ‘considerable upset’. The Edinburgh and Lothians East MSP said: ‘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.’ UN Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem Manivannan made the comments about rape on the Subjective Space podcast last year, but they were not reported until Sunday. The former academic, who identifies as non-binary, said: ‘I think our distaste towards rape is towards the idea of and the act of rape, not towards the myth of this monster rapist. ‘Because that definitely is a demonisation of rape in the sense of, it is a spectrum… It is a spectrum of things that constitute that one homogenised word, rape.’ Scots law defines rape as non-consensual penetration by a penis. Writing online, Ms Alsalem said: ‘Rape is a grave, systematic, and widespread human rights violation in international, regional and national law, that could also amount to torture. ‘However, that most certainly does NOT turn rape into a spectrum nor should it ever be spoken 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 criminalizing rape, which should cover rape against all persons, including marital rape.’ Ms Alsalem did not name Manivannan, but her familiarity with Scottish political debate and the timing left little doubt about her target. In an open letter to the Green MSP, other politicians and the public, the Scottish Rape Crisis Alliance said ‘rape is not a theoretical discussion’ for survivors, but a life-altering event. They said: ‘We fundamentally reject the suggestion that society is “demonising” rape. ‘We are not demonising rape. We are naming it. We are naming the fear, trauma and loss of control experienced by survivors. ‘We are equally concerned by the description of rape as existing “on a spectrum”. ‘There is no hierarchy of rape. There is no level of suffering a survivor must demonstrate before their experience becomes serious enough to matter. ‘And there is no “right” way to respond to being raped. “Was my rape serious enough?” should never be a question a survivor has to ask themselves.’ Addressing all political parties, the Alliance said: ‘Do not minimise rape, do not normalise sexual violence, do not create hierarchies of harm. ‘Do not lose sight of the person, more often than not a woman or girl, at the centre of the discussion. She is not a theoretical concept, she is not a statistic, she is not a political pawn. ‘Let us never become so consumed by political theory that we lose sight of the people whose lives are affected.’ Manivannan said their remarks were taken out of context and apologised for causing 'upset' On Sunday, SNP children’s minister Siobhan Brown called Manivannan’s comments ‘really concerning and deeply ill-judged’ adding rape was ‘not a spectrum, it is an abhorrent crime which needs to be stamped out’. In a statement, Manivannan said: ‘I am horrified that my comments were selectively edited, but I also accept that my language was abstract in the first place and for that I take full responsibility and am sorry. ‘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. ‘I would never seek to diminish or dismiss any survivor’s experience. ‘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.’ The MSP offered to meet survivor and advocacy groups for ‘an honest, constructive conversation about how we can work together to make Scotland safer and more compassionate for everyone’.