Avisa Oslo has revealed a serious and disturbing trend in which nine women have been sexually assaulted by taxi drivers in just over a year.

The majority of these drivers have driven for companies such as Bolt, MyTaxi, City Cab and Scandinavian Taxi. All of the drivers share a common trait: none of them were born in Norway, and all of them had to use an interpreter in court.

One of the most poignant stories comes from Amalie (21), who has come forward with her experiences.

She describes how, after going out, she got into a taxi thinking she was safe, but ended up experiencing a nightmare. The abusive driver held her captive for over an hour and a half, during which time she was subjected to severe sexual harassment.

“It was a terrifying experience,” she says, clearly affected by the incident.

Avisa Oslo’s survey of the drivers reveals several worrying commonalities. In many of the cases, the drivers had to use an interpreter during the trials, suggesting language barriers and possibly a lack of connection to Norwegian society.

It’s also striking that despite having approved driving licences, which are required to transport passengers legally, they abused their positions in cruel ways.

In one of the documented incidents, a Syrian driver (36) was prosecuted for groping a female passenger while driving detours. In another case, an Eritrean driver (51) was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for obtaining sexual favours by abusing his position.

Unfortunately, the cases show that some drivers have assaulted several women. A 31-year-old from Syria was convicted of rape, and a 33-year-old from Pakistan was sentenced to eight months in prison for harassing Amalie.

None of them could speak Norwegian.

The police have reacted strongly to this unacceptable development. They are encouraging customers to choose high-profile taxis that have visible ID cards and drivers in uniform, and they are emphasising the importance of reporting suspicions of abuse. E

One of the accused drivers, a 36-year-old man from Syria who will also use an interpreter in court, will have his case heard in the district court in June. He refuses to plead guilty.

This case brings up two important debates. One about the safety of women in the capital who are alone or in a defenceless position, the other about immigration from non-European countries.