Montreal’s Moroccan Women’s Clothing Boutique was closed by police on Monday after a woman posted an advertisement online calling herself a “victim of rape”.
The Montreal Police Service confirmed the ad was posted on Facebook on Sunday.
A police spokesperson said it was “a very serious crime” and that police will investigate.
“The Montreal Police Department is aware of the advertisement that was posted to a Facebook page dedicated to exposing the real victim of rape in Montreal,” the spokesperson said.
The ad described the alleged victim as a “young, beautiful, beautiful young woman” and called for her to come to Montreal to buy clothes.
It said she needed to be taken to a police station “to be raped and then raped again”.
Police said they will “continue to investigate and hold those responsible accountable”.
“The safety and security of the public is our number one priority,” police spokesman Stephane Charbonneau said in a statement.
The Montreal Women’s and Children’s Museum told CBC News that it is aware that the advertisement was posted, but did not say what it is about.
A spokeswoman said it will be reviewed by the museum’s board.
“We have been informed of the incident,” the museum said in an email.
“However, we have no further information to share at this time.”
Montreal Police said Monday the department is investigating the incident.
“It was very upsetting, particularly since the alleged perpetrator is a woman of colour and is a victim of sexual violence,” Charbonaux said.
Police said the police were called to the scene in the area of Notre Dame St. and Rue Saint-Michel on Sunday evening after a passerby called 911.
Montreal police have since been in contact with the woman and her family.
Montreal’s Department of Justice said it is also investigating the matter.
Montreal Women and Childrens Museum said it received the advertisement Sunday and that it was a “serious crime.”
“The ad is deeply troubling and the incident is a matter of concern for us,” the statement said.
Montreal City Coun.
Michael Gagnon, who represents the area, said he is “very concerned” about the incident and will be asking the city’s director of law enforcement, Christiane St-Pierre, to review the ad.
He said he will also be seeking the apology of the ad’s creators.
“I think it’s very important that we understand what was said in the advertisement,” he said.
The Montreal-based Moroccan Women’s Centre, which operates the store, said it has not received any complaints about the ad and that “we don’t think it should be seen as a racist, sexist or homophobic thing.””
This has to be dealt with.”
The Montreal-based Moroccan Women’s Centre, which operates the store, said it has not received any complaints about the ad and that “we don’t think it should be seen as a racist, sexist or homophobic thing.”
