Strauss-Kahn's Cambridge Union speech draws ire

Strauss-Kahn's speech at the Cambridge Union Society later on Friday has prompted a sharp rebuke from the Cambridge University Students' Union Women's Campaign, which circulated a petition opposing his invitation that includes more than 700 signatures.

The women's group invited attorney Douglas Wigdor, who represents the maid, Nafissatou Diallo, in her civil lawsuit against Strauss-Kahn, to discuss the case at a forum at the students' union hours before the former IMF chief talks to the university debating club on the state of the global economy

"This is the man who the Cambridge Union believes should address its members brazenly during a period of International Women's Day - a day that is supposed to be a period of respect, appreciation and love towards women. This is a man who has abused his power and preyed on powerless women with far less means and stature than he." said Wigdor, who holds a Masters degree from Oxford.

He said DSK was using the Union speech as a platform to improve his own reputation.

The Cambridge Union Society said it was providing a neutral platform for free speech.

Strauss-Kahn has largely kept a low profile since New York prosecutors dismissed charges of attempted rape and sexual assault against him in August, based on concerns about Diallo's credibility.

But in recent months he has rejoined the international speech circuit.

The women's group and students attending Wigdor's speech accuse the debating club of trivializing sexual assault by giving Strauss-Kahn an opportunity to speak.

"I am sad that he is coming to speak because I believe that Dominique Strauss-Kahn and men like Dominique Strauss-Kahn play a pivotal role in silencing women in society," said Sara Stillwell, an undergraduate student.

The Women's Officer of the Cambridge Students University Union, Ruth Graham said DSK's presence is damaging to the university.

"The Union's presentation of this man, the great economist, without reference to any of these allegations or ongoing investigations it just makes us complicit in a culture where we ignore women," she said.

Though the criminal case is over, Diallo is pursuing civil claims against Strauss-Kahn in New York. The first court hearing on the matter is scheduled for March 28.

Strauss-Kahn's legal team are arguing he has diplomatic immunity due to his status as IMF chief when the incident in the hotel room took place.

Wigdor doesn't expect that argument to hold any sway with New York judges in the civil case.

"I don't believe that any court would follow that. And, not to mention, the IMF has said he doesn't have immunity, the Department of State have said he doesn't have immunity and even if he did have immunity, he would not have absolute immunity, he would have immunity only for his official functions. Clearly raping and sexually assaulting a maid in a hotel room was not something he was doing as the managing director of the IMF," he said.

Strauss-Kahn was held for two days in January in a police station in the northern French city of Lille, where investigators questioned him about allegations that a prostitution ring organized by his business acquaintances provided women for clients of Lille's Carlton Hotel.

Police want to establish whether Strauss-Kahn knew that women at parties he attended in Lille, Paris and Washington were prostitutes. His lawyer has said Strauss-Kahn had no reason to think so.