Cyprus Court Clears Five Israelis of Gang Rape Charges Against British Woman

A Cypriot court has acquitted five Israeli men accused of gang raping a British woman in Ayia Napa, citing substantial contradictions and inconsistencies in the woman's testimony. The court found that the woman's account lacked coherence and noted that her claims were contradicted by witness statements from the pool party where the alleged incident occurred. Following the verdict, the complainant's legal team expressed their client's devastation, highlighting concerns over inadequate protections for women in Cyprus regarding sexual offenses. Justice Abroad, a legal aid group, has pledged support for the woman and criticized the court's lack of reasoning behind its decision. The acquitted defendants, aged 19 to 20, had been in custody since the incident on September 3, 2023, and they maintain their innocence, asserting that any sexual activity was consensual. The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of how sexual assault cases are handled in Cyprus, with calls for reform following a recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights.