Imagine being abducted, not by one but by a group of men, armed with weapons while you - at home with your family - feeling safe in the confines of your house are taken and suddenly thrust into a car. That is what happened to 17 year old Franca Viola, in her hometown of Alcamo, Western Sicily in 1965. Amongst those men was her ex-fiancee and both her mother and brother who bore witness to the violent abduction held onto the car as it began to drive away hoping that sheer physical strength and will could save Franca. Her mother was dragged by the vehicle and found bleeding on the road whilst her brother, refusing to let go was bundled into the car with her and returned hours later. 

Franca, however, was not found for over a week despite an extensive search by law enforcement who seemingly searched everywhere. She was later found at the home of her ex-fiancee's sister. Police stormed the residence and found Franca and her abductor who in his surprise made an attempt to flee but was soon taken into the custody of police. 

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There is a caveat to this story, however, because in 1960's Sicily, it was the norm to kidnap and rape a young woman because it was law that a women's honour - measured by her sexual chastity - could be restored if she married the perpetrator. This Italian penal code called Matrimonio Reparatore dictated that if a women's honour had been destroyed by the violent crime of rape, then the way to restore it was to wed her rapist. Medieval? Thousands of women were wed this way as denying the proposal brought shame to their families and as a consequence their reputation and business, work and status leaving them shunned from society. Franca, however, would say no. Franca would bring chaos and destruction to her family. Franca stepped on toes, and while the whole world around her shamed her, spat on her and her family, Franca stood firm and Franca made history. 

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