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British woman claiming she was gang-raped in Cyprus cleared of lying conviction

January 31, 2022 at 6:44 pm

The mother and lawyer of a British teenager, convicted of falsely accusing a group of Israelis of gang-rape, address the media outside the Famagusta District Court in Paralimni in eastern Cyprus on January 7, 2020 [IAKOVOS HATZISTAVROU/AFP via Getty Images]

A 21 year old British woman, found guilty of lying about being gang-raped in Cyprus, has won her appeal against the conviction at the country’s Supreme Court, local British media reports.

According to the report, lawyers for the 21-year-old, who cannot be named, appeared before the Supreme Court in Cyprus to hear a judge’s decision after lodging an appeal in September.

The 19-year-old was holidaying in the popular resort, Ayia Napa, where she was allegedly gang-raped and filmed by 12 Israeli boys.

She reported the rape to the police, and then signed a retraction of the accusation, ten days later, which her lawyer claims was done under duress after eight hours of police interrogation without legal representation present.

A pathologist said a judge dismissed 35 bruises found on her body, which the expert said were consistent with violent sexual assault.

Over $100,000 were raised within a few hours of her guilty conviction, which has since increased to nearly $200,000.

The teen faced a $2,000 fine and up to a year in jail.

Cyprus released the 12 Israeli boys and they returned home to a heroes’ welcome and chants “The Brit is a whore!”

The case has sparked protests amongst women’s and human rights groups, who suggested that the harsh treatment of the girl was due to Cyprus wanting to maintain relations with Israel.

READ: UK teen to return home