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

[Devereux1]

The reason I'd say it's not safe is because the reason many young people go there is to meet people if the opposite sex and let their hair down. They assume it's safe.

That assumption is wrong. Always has been, always will be.

Knowing that you can go back to your date's room and get raped by his mates and have no legal recourse, changes the dynamics totally.

I don't see how knowing that you can go back to your date's room and get raped by his mates and have legal recourse helps the dynamics that much.

Maybe the advice should be for young women to bring the man or men they want to have sex with to their own room - and understand that once they're in that room together, they've given consent for anything to happen?

I don't think the room booking makes much difference.

[jimmyjammy001]

But will young women in their teens/20's listen to the media and not visit there? I doubt it as 'it won't happen to me' mentality

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

Lived in Cyprus for two years- not in a tourist bit. There was a stark difference between 'tourist' Cyprus like Ayia Napa and 'proper' Cyprus away from the resorts. The touristy, booze cruise sort of places are the same whatever country you are in and I question the safety of any of them for groups of young, naive women (and men).

I would hesitate to report rape or encourage my daughter's to in any part of the world.

[DowntownAbby]

I don't believe that these men decided it was ok to join in raping this poor woman because of porn.

It's even less plausible than saying that playing Call of Duty is responsible for people committing murders.

Good men would never dream of raping someone, regardless of what they've seen online. To suggest otherwise is almost giving them an excuse for it.

This pack of animals just have no respect for women and indeed their behaviour shows a simple pack mentality - one is doing something bad, another joins in, others start to think it can't be that bad because my friends think it's ok and other people are doing it.

Does anyone know if the woman has sufficient funding and legal assistance behind her or whether there's any fundraising going on to help with that? I haven't found anything online yet but would happily contribute if it's needed.

[FairytaleofButlins]

Most women don't go on holiday to make false rape claims, covered in scratches, filmed and suffering PTSD though.

obviously, but you are not talking about MOST women here are you.

I know nothing about the case, one way or another. That's the point. I disagree with people who make snap judgments without knowing anything of the case.

The final decision must have been based on something though. You and I have no way to know if someone has been paid off or the actual facts prove the accuser did lie.

[MintyMabel]

This could happen anywhere, unfair to make it a Cyprus issue.

[Rosebel]

But it's not just Cyprus. A lot of places are not safe and will victim blame. So it's unreasonable to suggest that it's just Cyprus that isn't safe. I dread my daughters going abroad when they're older. I feel so sorry for that poor girl and hope she wins her appeal.

[Newdilemma]

and understand that once they're in that room together, they've given consent for anything to happen?

Absolutely bloody not! This means that women basically sign away autonomy of their bodies if they take a man back to their room. Fuck that rapist misogynistic shit! How about we as a society start to create a culture where women are seen as equal human beings with full control over what happens to their bodies? How about teaching that sex is a shared experience of mutual pleasure that both parties engage in joyously and enthusiastically, or not at all.
If I enter a bedroom with a man this is not giving consent for him to bugger or choke me. And whatever I agree to I can change my mind about. That's what consent means. That's what respect for the autonomy and self-determination of other human beings means. That's what being a fully functioning adult human being means.

[everythingthelighttouches]

downtonabby

Does anyone know if the woman has sufficient funding and legal assistance behind her or whether there's any fundraising going on to help with that?

I was just thinking the same myself.

A quick google tells me there is fundraising via a well known website. I don’t think we are allowed to link to it in the thread but it is reported in several newspapers, including the evening standard.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

Just a few things that I have picked up from the papers that are reporting this

She was on holiday
She was working there
She had a ONS and went back 2 nights later
She was seeing one of the men
It was a holiday romance
Her story changed
7 of the 12 men were never charged
1 of the men has a picture alibi with his GF
she voluntarily recanted
She was forced to recant

I'm sure that there will be more conflicting reports to come.

[DowntownAbby]

Thank you @everythingthelighttouches

I don't know why I couldn't see it - will try again.

[ACouchOfOnesOwn]

I think it is a Cyprus issue which isn't to say that other countries don't also have issues around rape prosecutions but the circumstances here are peculiar to Cyprus. It's their legal system; their reluctance to pursue the men; their refusal to consider the forensics in the case against the woman etc.

[lovingllamaa]

@Speckledhen10 what an absolutely awful thing to say.

[IdblowJonSnow]

I believe her too. Its absolutely unreal how it's all turned out. Her and her family must be out of their minds.
I really hope she can come home asap.
I will never go to Cyprus again.

[HJWT]

Its all an absolute mess... it fucked up for her when one of the men she said raped her had proof he was at home in bed with his girlfriend!

[june2007]

BoneyBackJefferson. Spot on.

[Fraggling]

Correctly identifying 11 men you barely know/ don't know must be pretty tricky.

I'm not sure if I'd been gang raped by 11 men I'd be able to get all the detail.

Remember when they published her 'retraction'? It wasn't in English English, it read as a non native speaker writing. Whole thing is totally transparent.

[PsuedoSatisfactionBaby]

I believe her. I will never go to Cyprus’s again either.

[Fraggling]

What 19 yo English woman would say 'I did sex with them'.

It's bollocks.

[fridgegrazer]

I watched the clip posted above and was horrified to learn that in Cyprus they don't record police interviews, or indeed anything that goes on in police stations. That seems very dodgy to me. So none of the interview evidence can be examined at all.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

Fraggling

According to various reports, she didn't identify the other 11 men the names were given by the BF, ONS to the police as being in the room at the time.

[happycamper11]

I lived in ayia napa for over 10 years and my DC were both born there. I've never felt sacred anywhere and would have no qualms walking alone at any time of night, however the police force and judicial system is massively massively archaic and corrupt. You can get away with anything if you know the right people. We will obviously still go every year, it's my children's heritage and their close family live there but there does need to be a massive overhaul as far as this sort of thing is involved.

[DishingOutDone]

So sad to see some posters piously defend the attackers. This is why the conviction rate in this country is so low, let alone Cyprus

[PhoneLock]

I'm a regular visitor to Cyprus and have followed the case off and on since it first made the news.

I haven't a clue who is telling the truth.