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Original poster

Ayia Napa Brit rape victim wins €20,000 damages over bungled investigation

24 replies

IwantToRetire · 28/02/2025 01:20

A British rape victim has been awarded €20,000 (£16,535) in damages after it emerged that authorities had bungled the investigation.

The woman, then 19, told Cypriot police she had been raped in the party resort of Ayia Napa in July 2019 by up to 12 Israeli men but retracted the allegation 10 days later after being held without a lawyer, and amid claims of police pressure.

The European Court of Human Rights this morning found "the Cypriot authorities failed in their obligation to effectively investigate the applicant's complaint of rape and to adopt a victim‑sensitive approach when doing so". It awarded the Derbyshire woman €20,000 in damages and €5,000 (£4,132) in costs.

The court found Cypriot authorities breached article 3 - protection from torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment - and article 8 - the right to respect for private and family life – of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Article continues at https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-ayia-napa-brit-rape-34760983

I think there must have been threads at the time, but can only find these recent ones

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/3880488-British-teenager-convicted-of-making-up-gang-rape-claims-in-Cyprus-speaks-about-ordeal-in-her-first-TV-interview-tonight

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4888120-5-israelis-arrested-on-suspicion-of-gang-raping-british-woman-in-cyprus-4-years-after-similar-case

(I hope I haven't got the wrong story because there was at least one other occassion when a young woman on holiday got raped and was not supported by the authorities in Cyprus.)

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NoBinturongsHereMate · 28/02/2025 01:33

It can never come close to undoing what happened, but I hope the acknowledgement helps bring her some comfort.

NoBinturongsHereMate · 28/02/2025 01:35

And that this will lead to the Cypriot authorities putting a rocket up their police force.

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 28/02/2025 01:44

Also should mention that this only happened because a legal charity Justice Abroad, took up the case.

Not the British authorities.

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selffellatingouroborosofhate · 28/02/2025 01:54

IIRC she couldn't start her career because she had a conviction from that case and it stopped her from working. I hope that she was cleared in law and I hope that the damages go some way towards the earnings she lost.

And I hope the Cypriots up their game in future.

Summerhillsquare · 28/02/2025 02:36

It seems very low, considering.

Guavafish1 · 28/02/2025 05:04

The misogyny from the Cypriot authorities was palpable… she went through hell and couldn’t go home for months.

The British media also blamed her… and the men got a hero’s welcome in Israel

Guavafish1 · 28/02/2025 05:05

Yes I agree it should have been higher.

OuterSpaceCadet · 28/02/2025 06:18

That's nothing for the effect that will have had on her life.

Victims often talk about how it's not just the rape (although there's no "just" about an attack of this magnitude by those disgusting men) but the way one is treated afterwards, that makes rape such a hideous ordeal.

LizzieSiddal · 28/02/2025 06:30

I remember this case, absolutely harrowing for her. I’m glad she’s got this judgement.

anyolddinosaur · 28/02/2025 08:44

I remember this case. Cyprus was not safe to visit for women and the way the Israelis responded was a disgrace. The money is not enough.

WhatNoRaisins · 28/02/2025 09:25

I'm also curious as to whether there has been any reassurance that it's safe for women visiting Cyprus to report a rape. Not sure I'd want to take the risk.

ArabellaScott · 28/02/2025 11:10

LizzieSiddal · 28/02/2025 06:30

I remember this case, absolutely harrowing for her. I’m glad she’s got this judgement.

Yes, although it's barely a dent in the life-changing effect this will have had on her. I hope she can find a way to move on.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 28/02/2025 11:15

I remember this case. Cyprus was not safe to visit for women and the way the Israelis responded was a disgrace. The money is not enough.

If I remember rightly some Israeli women held protests in solidarity with the young woman, so there was disgust there as well in some quarters.

WhereAreWeNow · 28/02/2025 11:22

Such an awful case. That poor young woman. It feels like a paltry sum in the context of what happened to her. I'm glad she pursued it though. I hope it helps her.

anyolddinosaur · 28/02/2025 15:43

Got an email through today from crowdfunder thanking supporters and realised that I'd donated towards her legal costs - so it wasnt just Justice Abroad helping her. I'm sorry she had to fight so hard for so long but at least it's vindication.

anyolddinosaur · 28/02/2025 15:51

There were 6.5k donations to the crowdfunder, may be a few more people here 😀

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 28/02/2025 17:18

it wasnt just Justice Abroad helping her

The crowd funder was for them, and if they as a charity hadn't taken up the case, she wouldn't have been able to appeal.
https://www.justiceabroad.co.uk/news/new-ayia-napa-gang-rape-hearing-takes-place-and-trial-is-set-to-take-place-on-18-20-and-21-december-2023

But yes brilliant that so many supported her, as there were more than a few stories implying she must somehow have brought it on herself.

And yes I remember the protests by Israeli women. I think some of them even went to Cyprus on the court days. https://archive.is/ZQJi5

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StellaAndCrow · 01/03/2025 09:20

I remember the horrible spectacle of the Israeli men returning home to a heroes' welcome. It was VILE.

www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2019-07-30/ty-article/.premium/sex-party-boys-cleared-of-rape-charges-in-cyprus-return-home-to-heroes-welcome/0000017f-e858-dc7e-adff-f8fd04fa0000arch

https://archive.ph/5DYhH

"A few people asked them to pose for selfies, the modern-day victory photo. Anyone who didn’t know what all the fuss was about got an explanation from one of the adults in the group who sang: “The British girl is a whore, the British girl is a whore, the British girl gives blowjobs to the whole neighborhood” to a melody familiar at soccer games and given new lyrics for this event."

StellaAndCrow · 01/03/2025 09:27

I mean, it CLEARLY wasn't consensual - it was a gang rape.

But again, as in so many similar cases - even if it had been "consensual", what sort of a person would celebrate having gang sex with a teenager and filming her against her will?

I mean, wasn't that THEIR defence, that she was humiliated when she found out that the "sex" was filmed without her knowledge, so made a rape "accusation"?

Igmum · 01/03/2025 18:25

I remember this and I planted a few carrots too. So pleased at this verdict. I agree it's not enough but I hope she feels vindicated and supported.

Is it too late to prosecute those men?

MissyB1 · 01/03/2025 18:28

Guavafish1 · 28/02/2025 05:04

The misogyny from the Cypriot authorities was palpable… she went through hell and couldn’t go home for months.

The British media also blamed her… and the men got a hero’s welcome in Israel

Yes Cyprus behaved atrociously, but I also wondered how much of this was because the rapists were Israeli? Did no one want to prosecute a bunch of Israeli men in case of Accusations of anti semitism or whatever?

It speaks volumes that they were considered heroes when they got home.

JazzyJelly · 01/03/2025 18:52

That won't even make a dent in her therapy bills! I hope (but obviously don't expect) she gets actual justice one day.

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