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AIBU?

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

725 replies

Kraai · 30/12/2019 11:57

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

OP posts:
BoneyBackJefferson · 31/12/2019 00:46

ohnomesandwiches

I don't know if any omissions have happened or spin taken place.

But as an example Foxy Knoxy was used through out Amanda Fox's case.

It wasn't done in a cute nick name type of way but to pain t a picture that the press wanted us to see.

Alexandrite · 31/12/2019 00:52

Ysnbu. I wouldn't go there now

Italiangreyhound · 31/12/2019 02:16

AnnieTotach "The israeli men and boys acted disgracefully, like complete shits, and were extremely disrespectful. Filming someone without their consent during sex is disgusting but it's also not rape."

If you can recognise they did not get consent for the filming how can you for a second assume they could get consent for the sex?

Can you honestly read the account of what happened and imagine this was anything other than rape? Seriously, amid the noise and confusion can you imagine any of these males was able to ascertain the woman's consent?

How terrifying for a woman to be faced with 11 additional males in a confined space. The noise and uncertainty and fear of violence!

How could anyone in that room know that woman was consenting to sex or filming or even remaining in a room wgich it would have been hard to leave if the men were obscuring the door?

"No one is coming out of this looking well and, as a pp said, this cant be so black and white."

The woman is coming out of this looking like a tragic victim of extreme male violence but I would not say that meant she doesn't look well in herself.

She is one sane point in all this.

I do believe it is pretty black and white and millennium of male entitlement and violence underpins the cruelty and injustice.

We do men no favours when we create systems that allow them to act like monsters.

CilantroChili · 31/12/2019 02:22

Erm hello Paddy Jackson case.

HighNetGirth · 31/12/2019 02:38

Cyprus has not become unsafe for women. It has been unsafe for donkeys years. This awful case is just a stark reminder of that.

The2Ateam · 31/12/2019 02:52

I believe her.

On a different note, I would take a punt that Cyprus is safer per head of population for crime than the UK and many other places in Europe.

I am familiar with Ayia Napa and sorry to say that from what I saw and know, there is a lot of drugs, violence and general alcohol related crime which is down to Brits - holidaying and working out there.

So, yes they have some really shitty laws and judicial processes but to declare that an entire Island and its population is unsafe for women is verging on histeria.

Many of the really uncomfortable things that this poor girl experienced at the hands of the police and in court are not completely unheard of in the U.K either.

ivegotdreadfulpmttoday · 31/12/2019 02:57

I believe her

Italiangreyhound · 31/12/2019 03:00

If the 'hysteria' leads to people not going to Cyprus for holidays and therefore leads tio to the country following normal legal procedures in the case of rape trials, it will serve a good purpose.

It's currently one country I wouldn't touch with a barge pole.

cuparfull · 31/12/2019 03:28

Yep the2Ateam .....Cyprus is ever so likely to appear safer when you have the Police and Judiciary subverting the course of Justice as they have in this case !!. NO doubt their rigged crime statistics will appear pristine. Never mind the lass had injuries consistent with rape!

Shameful that the place hasn't changed in the 30 years since I lived there...Boycott Cyprus

onioncrumble · 31/12/2019 03:31

Funny how this compares to the hatred for Dubai on MN, entirely based on theoretical situations whereas this horror is given airtime. You lot are nuts sometimes.

cuparfull · 31/12/2019 03:38

DISGUSTING BRATS.....!!
Interesting article here from Jewish Chronicle about the case.

www.thejc.com/comment/columnists/miriam-shaviv-these-boys-are-no-heroes-so-why-the-dancing-1.487040

onioncrumble · 31/12/2019 03:42

Cuparfull. What a thoughtful piece, it is quite comforting. Thank you.

Italiangreyhound · 31/12/2019 03:54

'theoretical situations'

Which are thses? There is evidence of wrong doing in many places. Not sure where you think these 'theoretical situations' are?

Tinkerbell456 · 31/12/2019 04:54

Wow. I don’t know the ins and outs of this, but it sure doesn’t sound as though she got a fair hearing by most standards. It isn’t unknown, but it is rare that women lie about rape. That being said, accused men should be assumed innocent until proven guilty too. That is often difficult though. Especially as many women don’t report rape at the time or even for years if ever for many reasons making conviction difficult. Regardless, the whole process she underwent makes her sound like the victim of not only a horrendous crime but compounded by massive injustice.

Toorahtoorahaye · 31/12/2019 08:59

That poor girl and her family - just awful how the authorities there have chosen to proceed. Would be interesting to see the stats for rape - reported and convicted

bellabasset · 31/12/2019 09:13

I hope that the barrister working on her behalf and the government intervention will allow her to be released.

She was at the police station for 7 hours without legal representation when she made the retraction and there are no taped interviews, which seems odd. The fact that she might not be able or want to pursue a rape claim isn't unusual in my experience. The onus of proof and the trial is an invasive procedure which not everyone can cope with.

kirinm · 31/12/2019 09:16

I see that overnight the foreign office has raised concerns with Cyprus. That senior court officials raised objections about the case, that many of the Israeli boys were about to enter conscript and that the court refused to hear any evidence about a rape - something she was being accused of lying about. These are all FACTS but god forbid anyone here claim they believe this 19 year old who was found to have DNA of 4 of the boys, blood in her vagina and bruising and injuries consistent with being raped.

The people on this thread that have insisted that there are insufficient facts known about this case, who claim people are man haters, who refuse to even read anything around the case should be fucking ashamed of themselves. Utterly disgusting.

RufusthebewiIderedreindeer · 31/12/2019 09:31

okthennow

Really sorry that happened to you, i hope you’ve been able to move on with your life Flowers

RufusthebewiIderedreindeer · 31/12/2019 09:37

I really hope the foreign office can do something

everythingthelighttouches · 31/12/2019 10:24

This is being discussed on woman’s hour now with a phone in.

BoneyBackJefferson · 31/12/2019 10:36

Italiangreyhound

It would be good if it did lead to changes but the problem is not just cyprus.

Various sects around the world denigrate women, even in Israel certain groups want women to sit on at the back of the bus, wear "modest" clothing and have been seen to taunt women that don't conform.

Luckily on SM most Jewish people Israeli or otherwise have react strongly against these boys/teenagers/men.

(sorry, preaching to the choir as it were)

Tinkerbell456 · 31/12/2019 10:49

Kirinm, had not read that there was that much physical evidence.These guys were still acquitted and she was convicted as a liar? Just Holy Crap.She had great courage to give that evidence. Why in God’s name would you, simply to lie?

Patroclus · 31/12/2019 10:50

The little boys who carried this out, having a sing and dance with 'the brit sucks dick' thrown in (whilst their parents stand around)

twitter.com/FreeHer4Justice/status/1185855081570340864

kirinm · 31/12/2019 10:57

@Tinkerbell456 they weren't acquired. They weren't tried.

kirinm · 31/12/2019 11:00

@Tinkerbell456 sorry that should've said that they were acquitted. The evidence has never been tested because of her retracting her statement.

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