A United Nations special rapporteur has publicly criticised Scottish Green MSP Q Manivannan after they suggested rape and sexual offences exist on a "spectrum" of severity, with the expert firmly rejecting that characterisation. The intervention adds international weight to a domestic row that has already drawn criticism from women's rights campaigners and political opponents, who argue the comments risk trivialising or minimising sexual violence.

The UN figure stressed that rape should not be graded or ranked in severity, arguing such framing undermines victims and misrepresents the nature of the crime. Manivannan, who sits as a Green MSP, has faced mounting pressure over the remarks, with the row deepening as further high-profile figures weigh in against the original comments.