These 4 men shared a powerful message about the #MeToo movement after being falsely accused of assault.
Four dentists, three of whom are brothers, nearly had their lives destroyed over a false accusation. But they haven’t forgotten their principles.
In early August, Ali Badkoobehi, 30, Saman Edalat, 39, Sina Edalat, 34, and Poria Edalat, 30 were accused of rape by a woman while they were visiting Las Vegas.
They faced several years in jail and having their professional and personal lives destroyed. Of course, that’s a fair price to pay if the charges had been true. And in allegations of assault or general sexual misconduct, it’s incredibly rare for charges to be entirely made up. But in this case it appears to be true.
Video evidence provided to authorities reportedly proved the allegations were false and all charges were quickly dropped.
“After review of the facts of the case, it was clear that the allegations were completely fabricated,” read a statement from lawyers representing the four men. “The evidence confirmed the men’s innocence, and the state has cleared them of all charges.”
It would be understandable if the four men were resentful after their ordeal. But they chose to respond with kindness and respect.
After all, they had been accused of one of the most heinous crimes imaginable. Even worse, three of the men are brothers and one can only imagine the kind of stress, shame and pain their ordeal placed on their families, friends and colleagues.
However, in a joint statement released by the four men, they went out of their way to state in clear terms that women must still be believed when they come forward with allegations of sexual assault or misconduct.
“At this sensitive moment in our history, we believe that women should be respected and heard and believed,” the statement reads.
The decency showed by these four men is all the more powerful in light of the recent Senate confirmation hearings of now-confirmed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
These four dentists did not have an entire half of the U.S. Senate, the President of the United States and countless lobbyists fighting for their cause. And yet they still chose to take the high road in this uncertain time for supporters and advocates of the #MeToo movement.
It’s just another reminder that men who are willing to be honest and respectful have nothing to fear from a movement that simply seeks to hold accountable those who have committed horiffic crimes and injustices against women for which there is no justification.
It’s not very often we’re left thinking of dentists with a smile on our faces. But in this case, they turned a situation that could have been the absolute worst into a teaching moment for all people, especially men.
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