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The Supreme Court of Cyprus is hearing the appeal of the British young woman;
Demonstrations in support of Nicosia and London
The 21-year-old appealed her conviction in "public harassment" after she withdrew from her complaint of gang rape of a group of young people from Israel, the plaintiff sought to reject the appeal outright, and was denied.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the matter within about six months.
Lawyers: "Important human rights case in Cyprus"
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Cyprus
Ayia Napa
Yoav Itiel
Thursday, 16 September 2021, 21:56 Updated: 21:57
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The Supreme Court of Cyprus today (Thursday) heard an appeal by the British young woman for her conviction for "public harassment" after she withdrew her complaint that she had been raped by a group of young people from Israel. Her lawyers said before the hearing that she was "apprehensive but optimistic". The prosecutor at the trial, Adamus Demosthanus, asked the court to outright dismiss the appeal "because she treated the judge disrespectfully", referring to what she said in a British documentary produced about the affair. The judges denied the request.
The hearing lasted three hours. Defense attorney Michael Pollak said at the end of the hearing that he was satisfied with the way it was conducted. A handful of protesters expressed support for the young woman outside the courtroom in Nicosia while the hearing took place. National interests dismiss rapists. Police and judges are collaborators. "A similar demonstration took place at noon in front of the Cypriot embassy in London.
The young woman in court, 2019 (Photo: Yoav Itiel)
The event took place on July 17, 2019 at a hotel in the resort town of Ayia Napa, which was then a popular destination for summer vacations for young people from all over Europe. The young woman, then 18 years old, who knew the 20-year-old Jerusalemite and had a consensual relationship with him in the days leading up to the incident, complained to the police that he had raped her by force with his friends who broke into the room and that they even photographed her. Twelve Israelis aged 20-15 were arrested immediately, but in the following days some were released, those who denied sexual contact with her and no DNA was found linking them to her, and the rest, including those who claimed to have consensual relations with her, were released when the young woman returned her complaint. The complaint was allegedly taken as revenge for being photographed against her will. The
Israelis left the country immediately upon their release and went on with their lives. She was arrested, brought to court and released under restrictive conditions only after long days in a local detention center. In Parliament, where she was sentenced to probation and a fine, she was allowed to leave the island.
The Supreme Court in Pekrisin, today (Photo: Official website, -)
The hearing today, before a panel of three Supreme Court justices headed by a judge, was held a year and a half after the appeal was filed.
The young woman, now 21, who returned to England, was left mentally injured and is barely trying to rebuild her life, after the affair gained international coverage that included spreading her name and intimate photos extensively online and on social media.
She finds it difficult to concentrate on her academic studies, rebuilding her social connections and any departure from home.
She was not present at today's hearing.
She has followed him from a distance, from her home in England, with her mother who has accompanied her through all the legal proceedings since she was called to the island after she learned of the incident.
During the hearing, defense attorneys presented the skeleton of their claims, which they detailed in a 154-page document they submitted to the Supreme Court for review immediately after her conviction, back in January 2020. Their main claim is that the young woman suffering from post-trauma returned from her complaint Represented by a lawyer and without an interpreter present.
These allegations were rejected in a trial that preceded the evidentiary stage in her main trial, and her written statement that in her religion the complaint was declared admissible evidence.
Her lawyers are appealing.
"Release from the shackles of unjust conviction"
The young woman's legal team includes lawyers from Justice Abroad, led by Adv. Luis Power and Adv. Michael Pollak, who coordinates the appeal proceedings. and attorney running Fkri office. through crowdfunding site "GoFundMe", so its expenses were recruited to the British legal more than 160 thousand pounds Strlnig - more than 700 thousand dollars.
another young woman's defense claim that the trial was conducted against the judge Miclis Ffatnasio Was unfair and was "locked in" on her conviction for the offense she was charged with, constantly shouting "this is not a rape trial, I do not want to hear evidence of rape", and prevented the defense team from proving that she was indeed raped and therefore could not be convicted following the complaint.
"We do not want to prejudge the Supreme Court's decision, but the young woman's story has resonated around the world since it made headlines in 2019," said Advocate Power.
However, she surpassed it with her determination and bravely decided to continue fighting in this case until the end where she believes justice will be done.
"We also believe that eventually justice will be achieved through a careful examination of the evidence and adherence to the rule of law. We hope that through the Supreme Court of Cyprus, this girl will be able to free herself from the shackles of an unjust conviction that has tarnished her young life."
(Photo: official website, -)
The decision of the Supreme Court of Cyprus will be given at another time, according to estimates in at least half a year, and the defense attorneys are determined to continue to fight for the innocence of the young woman even if it is necessary to bring the case before the European Court.
"This case is an important case for the protection of human rights in Cyprus, as well as for the treatment of those who report sexual offenses," said Advocate Michael Pollak.
Adv.
"The rulings of the Cyprus District Court regarding the credibility of the accused speak for themselves. This is a defendant who did not use the means to knowingly lie to both the police and the court not for nothing that the court ruled that she is a defendant whose truth is not a candle. "I am confident that the Supreme Court will reject the unfounded appeal filed by it."
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