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Franco Viola's Courageous Defiance
- Franco Viola was kidnapped and raped by Filippo Melodia, her suitor, in a traditional "matrimonial reparatoré" case.
- She shocked society by refusing to marry him and restore her family's honor, breaking centuries-old Sicilian tradition.
Marriage Law Excused Crimes
- Sicilian law allowed crimes like kidnapping and rape to be nullified if the victim married the perpetrator.
- This legal loophole perpetuated violence and oppression of women in Sicilian culture of that era.
Trial Exposes Contrasting Claims
- The trial of Filippo Melodia revealed his claim that the kidnapping and rape were consensual and pre-planned.
- Franco and her family testified against these claims, revealing the truth to the court despite public hostility.