Activist narrates how she was raped by a suitor in the shower

Amber Amour, 27, from New York, had been in South Africa with friends where she claims she was sexually assaulted by a man in a shower at her hostel.

Ms Amour was in the country to promote her “Stop Rape, Educate” campaign when the incident happened.

About a month ago, she posted a photo of herself with tears running down her face moments after the alleged rape took place.

In the post, which has since gone viral and been picked up by media across the world; Ms Amour claimed she was raped in a hostel by a man who she had met the same evening.

The ordeal

She narrates how a man she knew for a few days was waiting for her at the hotel where she was staying adding that he was “desperately trying to get with” her.

She says she kissed him once, but then told him it was “bad timing” as she had “already met someone”.

She went upstairs and the man followed, telling her that he was about to take a shower. When he invited her to join him, she said yes because she was unwell and the water at her then-hostel was cold.

Amour then shares a graphic description of the rape and how she eventually passed out.  Speaking to Marie Claire Magazine, Amber said: “I immediately knew that I couldn’t keep what had happened a secret.”

Below is her narration as she shared on Instagram:

“I have been sick for the past 2 days and today was my first day out. I went back to my old hostel to leave a note for a friend, Nick. There was another guy there, Shakir, who was desperately trying to get with me. I kissed him once, but he seemed drunk; so I told him it was bad timing, I had already met someone.”

“Before heading out, I went upstairs to say hi to one more friend, Clyde, from the States. Shakir followed me upstairs and said he was going to take a shower. He invited me to join. I said yes because the water at my current hostel is pretty cold and after 2 days of being sick, I just really wanted a hot shower.”

“As soon as I got in the bathroom, he forced me to my knees.  I said “stop” but he just got more violent.”

“I woke up a few minutes later and saw him trying to creep out of the door. When he saw that I was awake, he came back to finish me off…”

“I have all those [expletive] feelings we get after rape… shame, disgust, suffering. I’m here alone, and any DNA has been wiped away in the shower.”

Invitation for rape

Shortly after sharing her ordeal, sections of followers argued that Ms Amour is partly to blame for the incident.

However, one Jessi among others came to her defense saying: “Rape is by all means wrong, no matter what precedes.”

“Ladies be cautious, don’t trust every situation. You never know what someone’s intentions are… Instead, she is just saying: “just because I got in the shower doesn’t mean he had the right to rape me.” Although you cannot always avoid rape, you can make better choices… Because you cannot overpower a man or read his mind… Sometimes you have to just avoid a potentially bad situation…,” wrote Jessi on Instagram.

Eight weeks later, Amber remains in South Africa where the police investigations are still ongoing.

She says the man who raped her was arrested but has since been released on bail and the case will continue on March 29th.