MSP Q Manivannan of the Scottish Greens has triggered widespread condemnation following remarks made during a February 2025 podcast. The politician suggested that rape exists on a spectrum and argued against the "demonisation" of those who commit such crimes.
The 'Spectrum of Rape' claims on The Subjective Space
During a recording for the podcast The Subjective Space with Dr Sindhu Rajasekaran, MSP Q Manivannan argued that the public's distaste for rape is often directed at a "myth of this monster rapist" rather than the act itself. According to the report, Manivannan claimed that the various acts constituting the word rape are not necessarily more or less worse, but instead exist on a spectrum.
The Scottish Greens politician further suggested that a truly just society would mirror the goals of abolitionism, specifically regarding the rehabilitation of rapists back into society .. Manivannan posited that the common image of the "big burly man" as the primary threat is a misconstruction, suggesting that any individual is potentially capable of such violence.
Tracy Gilbert's 9-in-10 survivor statistic
The reaction from political opponents has been swift and severe. Scottish Labour MP Tracy Gilbert expressed alarm at the comments, asserting that there is no "spectrum of suffering" for survivors. As the report notes, Tracy Gilbert highlighted that studies indicate 9 in 10 rape survivors knew their attacker, with half identifying the perpetrator as a current or former partner.
Tracy Gilbert argued that the long-term physical and mental injuries resulting from sexual assault make any attempt to "nuance" the crime dangerous. The Labour MP called for a full retraction and apology from MSP Q Manivannan,emphasizing that the consequences of such attacks often persist for decades .
Manivannan's transition from student visa to MSP
Adding a layer of complexity to the politician's profile, MSP Q Manivannan is currently in Scotland on a student visa. Having been elected as an MSP for the Edinburgh and Lothian East region in recent local elections,Manivannan is now seeking a graduate visa and a global talent visa to ensure they can serve the full five-year parliamentary term.
This legal status is significant because student visas typically restrict holders to 20 hours of part-time work per week and prohibit them from filling permanent vacancies. The transition to a global talent visa would remove these barriers, allowing the Scottish Greens representative to function fully in their legislative capacity.
The 'out of context' defense and the missing party response
In response to the outcry, MSP Q Manivannan claimed that social media clips of the podcast were misrepresented and taken out of context. The politician stated that their actual intent was to highlight that rapists do not always fit a specific stereotype and that the focus should remain on reducing reoffending rates.
Despite this defense, several critical questions remain. While Tracy Gilbert has called on Scottish Green Party figures Gillian MacKay and Ross Greer to distance the party from these views, it remains unclear if the party leadership has officially condemned the "spectrum" comments or if they view them as a deviation from party policy. The report does not provide a formal statement from the Scottish Green Party leadership on whether Manivannan's views align with their official platform.
Abolitionism and the rehabilitation of sexual offenders
The comments made by MSP Q Manivannan reflect a broader, often contentious, trend within radical political circles that apply carceral abolitionism to violent crime. By framing the "moonster rapist" as a social construct, Manivannan is echoing a theoretical approach that prioritizes the systemic rehabilitation of the offender over the traditional punitive framework of the justice system.
For many, this academic approach clashes violently with the lived experience of survivors. The tension here is between a theoretical pursuit of a "just society" and the immediate, visceral need for moral clarity and condemnation of sexual violence in public office.
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