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Jogger attacked by two Boxer dogs in Yvorne

A woman out jogging on Monday evening in Yvorne in the canton of Vaud suffered wounds to her legs and an arm after being set upon by two Boxer dogs.

Jogger attacked by two Boxer dogs in Yvorne
Not the dogs in question. Photo: MarcinS/Depositphotos

One of the dogs knocked the 50-year-old to the ground and attacked her as the second Boxer joined in, 24 Heures reported.

The woman was able to take refuge in her car parked nearby. She was later admitted to the CHUV hospital in Lausanne for treatment to her bites.

Police were able to trace the dog walker, who had fled the scene, and to remove the animals.

The 70-year-old, who was known to police for similar incidents in the past, claimed not to be the owner of the dogs.

He is currently appealing against a ban on keeping dogs.

The public prosecutor has opened an inquiry.

In Switzerland all dogs have to be microchipped and attacks have to be reported to the veterinary authorities.

There are over half a million dogs kept in Switzerland. Around 9,500 people have to be treated every year for dog bites.

CRIME

Thirteen in court over death threats to French teenager after her social media tirades against Islam

Thirteen people go on trial in Paris on Thursday on charges of online harassment and in some cases death threats against a teenage girl who posted social media tirades against Islam, which saw her placed under police protection and forced to change schools.

Thirteen in court over death threats to French teenager after her social media tirades against Islam
Mila's lawyer Richard Malka has been involved in several high-profile freedom of expression trials, including the Charlie Hebdo trials. Photo: Martin Bureau/AFP

The  ‘Affaire Mila’ sparked outrage and renewed calls to uphold free-speech rights after the 16-year-old was subjected to a torrent of abuse on social media after her expletive-laden videos went viral last year.

“The Koran is filled with nothing but hate, Islam is a shitty religion,” Mila said in the first post on Instagram in January 2020.

READ ALSO What is the Affaire Mila and why is it causing outrage?

A second one in November, this time on TikTok, came after the jihadist killing of high school teacher Samuel Paty over his showing of controversial cartoons of the prophet Mohamed to students.

The reactions were swift and virulent.

“You deserve to have your throat cut,” read one, while another warned “I’m going to do you like Samuel Paty”.

Mila had to be placed under police protection along with her family in Villefontaine, a town outside Lyon in southeast France, and was forced to change schools.

Even President Emmanuel Macron came to her defence, saying that “the law is clear. We have the right to blaspheme, to criticise and to caricature religions.”

Investigators eventually identified thirteen people from several French regions aged 18 to 30, and charged them with online harassment, with some also accused of threatening death or other criminal acts.

“This is a trial against the digital terror that unleashes sexist, homophobic and intolerant mobs against a teenager,” Mila’s lawyer Richard Malka told AFP ahead of the trial, which opens on Thursday afternoon.

“This digital lynching must be punished,” he said.

But defence lawyers have argued that the 13 on trial are unfairly taking the rap as scapegoats for thousands of people taking advantage of the anonymity offered by social media platforms.

“My client is totally overwhelmed by this affair,” said Gerard Chemla, a lawyer for one of the accused. “He had a fairly stupid instant reaction, the type that happens every day on Twitter.”

The accused face up to two years in prison and fines of €30,000 for online harassment.

A conviction of death threats carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison – two people previously convicted of death threats against Mila have received prison terms.

Mila, now 18, is to publish a book this month recounting her experience, titled “I’m paying the price for your freedom.”

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