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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not understand why the UK government have not really condemned the Cyprus Court system ?

35 replies

Sootyandsweep2019 · 07/01/2020 14:58

It goes without saying that what the victim has been through is horrific. Bear in mind the government were happy to make quite clear their feelings about the U.S system r.e Anne soccales. I really don't understand why the same support hasn't been given by prime minister/ home secretary. It is a disgrace, that there seems to be no government line this is appalling, ( although obviously I'm glad the victims allowed to come home).

OP posts:
doritosdip · 08/01/2020 11:11

They are right to prioritize getting the woman back to the UK.

People in the UK condemning another legal system is not going to help. Has international outrage about the US abortion and child marriage laws changed anything? It is only recent that abortion in Northern Ireland has been discriminalized and there's plenty that we could do better on.

BritishCypriot · 08/01/2020 11:55

Name-changed for this thread for obvious reasons.

It's politically and diplomatically difficult. Raab has to tread a fine line.

It's not just about the bases Akrotiri and Dhekelia but the strategic importance of the Troodos listening post, which intercepts and monitors communications traffic across the Middle Eastern region. Troodos is the main NATO listening post for the Middle East just let that sink in a minute, and think of all those ISIS and AQ phone calls and emails and it is under British control.

Add into that the legacy of British colonialism in Cyprus (which was so badly handled, it kinda beggars belief), Cyprus's continual dalliance with Russia, their tacit support for Russian objectives in Syria (to the extent, their new billion-pound power station in Larnaca blew up), their relationship with Israel (both politically and economically; Cypriot local government makes a fair whack of money for administrating civil marriages for Israelis), plus foreign support for their rights over gas fields in the Southern Med (there was nearly a war over this in the early tens), and you've got a rather delicate situation.

Then one has to consider that Cyprus has a mind-blowing level of cognitive dissonance when it comes to accepting material reality. This is a country where there is a tendency to believe that if you ignore a phenomenon, it somehow, magically, ceases to exist -- for example, the laws of economics, or EU trade rules, an ever-critical potable water shortage, or the extraordinary level of corruption and price-fixing on the island.

Again, one must also remember that this is the country that saw an extraordinary level of sex trafficking from Eastern Europe into "prison" brothels operating in their country, and did pretty much bugger all about it -- probably because the level of foreign national organised crime was beyond their capacity to cope with (we are talking hand grenades thrown into cafes on the ground floor of apartment blocks).

So they have form for throwing foreign women under the bus when it comes to difficult situations.

Hence when this case came along, Cyprus did what it always does ... and tried to pretend the whole thing didn't happen -- basically to avoid facing reality. The rape and the accusation all "washed away", "nothing to see here", and then a move to try and suggest the girl was a trouble-maker.

Except it blew up in their faces.

Personally, if I were Raab, I would have published a Foreign Office advisory -- because that would have been the one thing most likely to give them a kick up the arse.

But even then it really depends because I suspect the old Ayia Napa prejudice would come into play, whereby most older Cypriots would explain it all by pointing to the fact that, traditionally, Ayia Napa is a Maronite village, not an Orthodox one, and that's why it has been allowed to sink into a pit of depravity where such horrible things are allowed to occur.

But I will say, in Cyprus's defence, that there is a reason why it behaves like it does. It's ex-Ottoman, and British post-colonial with a legacy of 1970s horror. It's a divided island with a rogue state in the North full of soldiers. It's trapped in a strategic Middle-Eastern military position. The cost of living is extortionate; it's in the EMU, but singularly cannot economically afford to be so, but EU membership guarantees safety from Turkish ambitions. It's crammed full of expats and immigrants that take the absolute piss. They are so heavily in debt, the government is loading bills for energy (the sector is nationalised). And most of the people of my generation (GenX) spent their youth in highly horrific circumstances due to political instability and the subsequent Turkish invasion.

If Cypriots had to actually face reality, I doubt they would cope. Unfortunately, this young British woman has become the latest victim.

ActualHornist · 08/01/2020 12:01

Don’t know why you think the government would give a shit about a woman deemed a ‘slut’ for being raped when it happened in another country.

Barely anyone cares when it happens here.

Hefzi · 08/01/2020 12:11

Thanks, @BritishCypriot - that's very interesting and helpful to read.

What people often forget - or don't know - is that the most effective diplomacy isn't played out in the public eye. Ever. The FCOs public response so far - including that we know Raab has spoken to the president - is actually quite powerful and strong in diplomatic terms, so I suspect this is a very small tip of the iceberg in terms of what's happening.

We - as the public - have come to expect visible diplomacy, with the rise in social media and the trend towards this approach in the later Blair years. We should be less interested in Trumpian point-scoring, and prioritise effective, lasting action. Talk, after all, is no substitute for action.

ProfessorSlocombe · 08/01/2020 12:11

Don’t know why you think the government would give a shit about a woman deemed a ‘slut’ for being raped when it happened in another country.

The British government has a long and proud tradition of not giving a shit about their own citizens in their own country. Not quite sure why anyone would expect a sea change just because someone finds themselves abroad.

Daisytiddles · 08/01/2020 12:11

The men who raped her have political connections in Israel.There is probably probably some corruption going on, and the UK government don't want problems with Israel which will probably mean problem with the USA

slipperywhensparticus · 08/01/2020 12:12

There is no such thing as proof via evidence you can stood over a dead body with a hammer and you would still be considered a suspect and they would still have to prove you actually did it

The doctors say based on a preponderance of evidence it is more likely than not that she was raped

I cant see where the video she believes was taken of her that day has been found they do say there were other videos and that they dont believe consent to be filmed was obtained before uploading them to the internet

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 08/01/2020 16:00

Professor Grin

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 08/01/2020 16:01

To be clear that was a giggle at your ECHR post Confused Not subsequent ones.

SummerBreezemakesmefeelfine · 08/01/2020 23:54

BritishCypriot

We visit Cyprus often as UK tourists because we like the warm climate, great food and so on.

I am interested in your point that Ayia Napa is a Maronite village. Have you got any further information or links to this?

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