Cyprus is no longer a safe place for (young, single) women to holiday?

[Kraai]

The teen went back to her ONS's room for consensual sex. When there, 11 of his mates burst in and filmed while three of them then raped her. She went to the police and reported it. They were detained. They said it was consensual and was "with love" (I kid you not!). She was interviewed at length with no legal representation and the police decided she was lying. She was then charged with the crime of making up a crime and has been unable to come home since the summer. The guys were all allowed to return to Israel where some of them have since said things indicating she wasn't lying at all and I'm pretty sure the video was shared (from memory, which may be wrong). She's had psychological evaluation saying she's suffering badly from PTSD.

It's worth noting that the Cyprus is a very popular destination for young Israelis to let off steam before they start national service and there's a strong political tie between the two.

So, AIBU to say that Cyprus is no longer a safe destination for young woman? If the worst happens to you and you report it and the police think you're not a credible witness, YOU will end up in jail. Knowing how traumatic reporting something like a stolen wallet in a foreign police station can be, the idea that a woman would be interviewed without legal representation in a state of severe distress, however that manifests, and then not believed and charged means that men have been given free rein to rape in Cyprus. Especially if it's in a potential "grey zone".

https://www.bbc.com/news/videoandd_audio/headlines/50944483/cyprus-rape-claim-case-it-s-a-very-worrying-conviction

[Thehop]

This is hideous.

[parttimepunk]

That is appalling.

I believe her.

[Panicmode1]

YANBU - it's an awful case. I also read that the medical examiner concurred that the injuries she sustained were consistent with rape and yet she's the one held hostage and maybe facing a jail sentence. I hope that people think twice before heading there on holiday and handing the island any more tourist money.......

[Thestral]

Victim blaming much, @june2007

[echt]

Cyprus wasn't safe in 1978 when I went there.

[ElleDee46]

I was in Ayia Napa in summer with my partner and I have to say I found the leering of men completely uncomfortable. Men would beep the horns in cars and yell as they were passing by, or make comments and even the taxi drivers were at it. I clearly wasn't there as a singleton and yet when we were out for the evening I was constantly pestered and they attempted to grope, never saw a single police officer anywhere even if I wanted to report anything.
Not the country it used to be.

[foodandwine89]

The whole case makes me sick. Every time I see a headline, I get this knot in my stomach, it’s awful.

As a side note, I’m not originally from the UK and have family in Spain and South Eastern Europe. We all need to understand that, unfortunately, women are not safe there and the police will do nothing to help you. There is a horrible macho culture in these places combined with heavily underfunded police forces. Her story, while more horrific than most, is not the first. I say this from
experience of living there - when women get assaulted, they don’t go to the police. At best police will be useless. At worst, they’ll mock them and tell them they deserved it.

[MrsKCastle]

@june2007 That is horrible victim blaming. There is nothing wrong with having a one night stand. She is a victim of the disgusting excuses for men who took advantage of her. It is not her fault.

[Emeraldshamrock]

Is anywhere. Was it ever.
A remember an Irish traveller going through similar in Cyprus 20 years ago.
A young Irish man raped by 2 men in magaluf last year.
Young english lady raped by 6 in spain.
English middle age lady raped in Sorrento by 10 men workers in the 4* hotel.she stayed at.
The list goes on and on.
I'm dreading my DC going abroad alone.

[SlothMama]

This is disgusting that poor girl, @june2007 get a grip a woman should be safe to go home with a man without expecting to get raped...

[Chista]

Absolutely awful, just another case that shows there are 'more important things' than the victim. Sadly it wont stop hoardes of young women heading out their when the summer hits

[Surbitonsam]

I believe her. Appalling case. Hopefully her lawyers will take it to the European Court of Human Rights which I believe they are currently talking about. Cyprus obviously cannot be trusted...

[Emeraldshamrock]

I wonder how they come up with this. Why are they all so happy to join in.
What happened to young men believing rape was only carried our by vile individuals. How do you get 6 vile individuals as friends or is it normal to suggest gang rape with your friends these days.

[AlternativePerspective]

If someone is raped then obviously it goes without saying that they are not to blame.

But it’s naive to suggest that taking a stranger back for a one night stand is ever a good idea. In an ideal world one would suggest that said stranger won’t turn out to be a rapist/murderer/creep

[Campervan69]

So awful for her

I won't be going there. Utterly disgraceful.

[june2007]

It,s not victim-blaming. The point is if you don,t know someone your with, you could be going home with anyone and it can happen anywhere meaning Cyprus is probably as safe as anywhere else. Did she deserve it absolutely not. But the fact is she didn't ,t know the guy. Thats why people don,t hitch hike anymore.

[Emeraldshamrock]

www.irishtimes.com/news/sister-of-woman-jailed-in-cyprus-says-she-is-confused-and-terrified-1.96089
Ladies please read this from 23 years ago. Same country similar situation.
My Dsis was friends with this girl she was vilified.

[PerfectOrganism]

Absolutely ridiculous comments. We go to Cyprus every year and have never had any problems.

[Fruitdryingpsychopath]

*But it’s naive to suggest that taking a stranger back for a one night stand is ever a good idea. In an ideal world one would suggest that said stranger won’t turn out to be a rapist/murderer/creep

[foodandwine89]

@Emeraldshamrock I wonder this too. How? How do you join in something like this? I can get my head around an evil individual raping someone. But how do 11 young seemingly normal men plan and join in this? It’s so inexplicable, they need to be sent to jail and never let out because they’re obviously nothing but animals.

[Emeraldshamrock]

She was forced to say she lied. The paper is not the true story. Cyprus law stinks.

[dirtyrottenscoundrel]

Poor women.
Absolutely awful.

[Emeraldshamrock]

@foodandwine89 It has to be the rape scenes in porn that makes their mind normalise this.
We need a serious change.

[Fruitdryingpsychopath]

I wonder how they come up with this. Why are they all so happy to join in.

I always think this about the Ched Evans case. Whether or not it was 'consensual' (and I still cannot see how consent could have possibly been obtained in the circumstances he himself described but never mind) the thing that always stuck out to me was when did it become normal to let yourself into a hotel room where your mate was having sex in the dark with a woman you have never met, never spoken to, and start putting your penis in her? Whilst your mates film through the window? And none of them thought there was anything wrong and weird about it?

Same with these guys, they all thought it was a perfectly OK thing to do? Why?