Vigil in Untersiggenthal: Around 400 people show solidarity with victims of sexualized violence

At the center of the rally was the case of former Aargau member of the cantonal parliament (Grossrat) Patrick Frei. He is accused of having raped his then-wife around 140 times, sexually assaulted her, and filmed the acts between December 2008 and August 2021. During the investigation, Iwona L., a Polish national who moved in with Frei in the summer of 2022 along with her then 14-year-old daughter, also came under scrutiny by the public prosecutor's office. According to the indictment, Frei is alleged to have sexually abused the daughter in 44 incidents over the course of roughly a year. According to the Tagesanzeiger, the public prosecutor's office secured videos and images of dozens of severe assaults.

Background: The Patrick Frei Case

A forensic medical report commissioned by the public prosecutor's office concluded that during one of the assaults the victim was on the verge of suffocation. As SRF reported, citing the prosecution authority, Frei allegedly sedated the victims so heavily that there was acute danger to their lives. Frei, who is now 57 years old, is charged with, among other things, rape, sexual coercion, sexual abuse of a minor, sexual acts with children, and attempted murder. His lawyers pointed out that he disputes "wesentliche Teile der gegen ihn erhobenen Vorwürfe"; the presumption of innocence applies.

Until his arrest in the autumn of 2023, Frei was a member of the Aargau Grossrat for the SVP and thus sat for that party in the cantonal parliament, which is particularly known for advocating harsh sentences. Shortly before his arrest, he had co-signed a motion titled "Massnahmen gegen Pädophile" (Measures against paedophiles), which called for tougher action against offenders. At the same time, he publicly held "ausländische Beschuldigte" responsible for rising levels of violence. This dual role as a politician and alleged perpetrator continues to provoke outrage to this day, including over the institutional handling of the allegations.

Authority Decisions and Deportation Order

At the vigil, however, the case of the ex-politician was not the only topic discussed. The experiences of the affected women with the authorities following Frei's arrest were also a central focus. In a statement, Iwona L. described how she and her daughter had been "doppelt zum Opfer gemacht, doppelt traumatisiert" – "doubly made into victims, doubly traumatized": "Nicht nur von Patrick, sondern auch von den Behörden." After Frei's arrest, she fell into financial hardship and had to apply for social welfare. The migration office retrospectively classified her employment relationship with Frei, which had formed the basis for her residence permit, as a "Scheinarbeitsverhältnis" (sham employment).

In September 2024, a deportation order was issued against Iwona L., giving her and her daughter 60 days to leave Switzerland once the decision became final. The migration office justified this, among other things, by citing a "sehr großen" (very strong) public interest in deporting the affected women. At the same time, investigations are ongoing against Iwona L. on suspicion of fraudulently obtained residence. She has filed an appeal against the deportation decision with the responsible administrative court; the final word has not yet been spoken.

The Position of the Cantonal Government

Particularly weighty for the affected women is the migration office's stance regarding their testimony. As emerges from a letter, while the office acknowledged that the mother and daughter had become alleged victims of sexual assaults, it did not classify this as a "Härtefall" (case of hardship) in the sense of residence law. The office also pointed out that once the deadline for departure had expired, the deportation could be enforced by compulsion. For the organizers of the vigil and other supporters, this is an example of how authorities treat victims of violence – and a driving force behind their demand for greater victim protection and a thorough investigation.

Aargau government councillor Dieter Egli (SP) also spoke at the rally. He apologized to the two women, but at the same time defended the migration office, which had acted in a "rechtlich korrekt" (legally correct) manner. Egli described the outcome for the two victims as "fatal" and announced that processes, reporting obligations, cooperation between authorities, and information channels would be reviewed. The municipality of Untersiggenthal had originally reported the case to the migration office; what consequences the announced review will have initially remained unclear.

Participants in the vigil formulated three core demands: greater victim protection, a comprehensive and transparent investigation of the incidents, and a clear stance against sexualized violence. Several speakers pointed out that such gatherings show those affected that they are not alone. One young woman told SRF: „Und weil mir solche Versammlungen zeigen, dass ich nicht allein bin." Another participant explained that expressing her dissatisfaction was "das Einzige, was man aktuell tun könne" – "the only thing one can currently do".

Voices of the Participants

Among those present were people of all ages. An 88-year-old man told SRF: „Ich habe drei Töchter und wir sind mit der ganzen Familie gekommen", to send a signal that such acts would not be tolerated. Another participant, a young man, emphasized that it was important to him to show solidarity with the affected women. The organizers interpreted the turnout as a clear signal: they want to increase pressure on the authorities so that action is taken more quickly, sensitively, and consistently in the future.

Beyond the vigil, the case raises fundamental questions. The Tagesanzeiger reports, citing Iwona L., that Frei did pay for her and her daughter's upkeep, but not the salary stipulated in the employment contract. This is a central point in the dispute over the residence permit and its classification as a "Scheinarbeitsverhältnis". According to the indictment, Frei's ex-wife suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the assaults and is no longer able to work. Three women are currently considered alleged victims based on the present state of the investigation.

Open Questions and Next Steps

What is certain is that Patrick Frei has been in pre-trial detention for three years. A trial date has not yet been publicly announced. Until a verdict is reached – which, given the severity of the allegations, is not expected until after the conclusion of a complex criminal proceeding – legal questions remain open, as do those regarding the residency future of Iwona L. and her daughter. The vigil in Untersiggenthal has made these open questions visible and given them a public space.

The organizers announced that they would continue to advocate for the concerns of victims of violence in the future. Iwona L. asked those present for support in the form of time and attention, because she wanted to accompany other women in similar situations. With regard to the broad coalition of parties, aid organizations, and private individuals, a spokesperson formulated the movement's goal: looking away is not an option when authorities and society cannot credibly guarantee the protection of victims of violence.

Political Reactions and Outlook

Reactions from the Aargau political establishment were restrained. While Egli announced a review, other members of the cantonal government initially did not comment. At the municipal level, Untersiggenthal remains in the spotlight: the municipality had originally reported the case and now faces the question of whether earlier intervention could have prevented the later escalation. Answers to this will presumably only come with the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.

Overall, the vigil demonstrates how a single case of sexualized violence can fundamentally shake trust in institutions. The combination of serious allegations, the case coming from the politicians' own ranks, and the official handling of the alleged victims has triggered a debate in Untersiggenthal that is attracting attention beyond Aargau. The organizers see the rally as the prelude to a broader discussion about victim protection, institutional failure, and the responsibility of politics.