Italian Franca Viola was just 15 when she became engaged to 23-year-old Filippo Melodia

Italian Franca Viola was just 15 when she became engaged to 23-year-old Filippo Melodia. However, Melodia's involvement in criminal activities led to Viola breaking off the relationship.

After Melodia's release from prison, he sought to reconcile with Viola, who had already entered into a relationship with another man. Enraged by her refusal to take him back, Melodia orchestrated Viola's kidnapping in the early hours of December 26, 1965. She was held against her will for eight days and subjected to sexual assault by Melodia during this time.

During this period in Italy, rape was considered a crime against public morality( and not against the individual), and it was customary for rapists to marry their victims. Many rape victims succumbed to this tradition due to societal pressure, as it was considered dishonorable for a woman not to marry the man who took her virginity. Furthermore, rapists were forgiven if they married their victims.

Melodia expected Viola to yield to this pressure, but she vehemently refused to marry him.

As a result, Melodia was found guilty and sentenced to ten years in prison. Viola's resilience sparked a revolution that ultimately led to the abolition of the law allowing rapists to be forgiven through marriage.