UK protesters rally against teen’s conviction in Cyprus rape-claim case

Dozens of people demonstrated in London on Monday to call on the government to help a young British woman convicted in Cyprus of fabricating rape charges against Israeli tourists.

The 19-year-old was convicted by a court in Cyprus in late December of lying about being attacked by 12 young Israeli tourists at a hotel in the resort town of Ayia Napa in July.

She is due to be sentenced on Tuesday, amid concern about whether she was forced to retract her allegations under police pressure and the fairness of her trial.

“She is being punished for something awful that happened to her,” said Lucy Nevitt, rally organiser and co-founder of The Gemini Project, which supports victims of sexual assault.

“We have seen this happen too often, it happened to other people in Cyprus,” she told AFP. “This is why we are calling on the government to intervene.”

The convicted teenager, whose identity has not been released, says she was forced to withdraw her complaint under pressure from the Cypriot police.

The accused Israelis were then released while she was charged and later convicted of “public mischief”.

Some 60 protesters, most of them women, gathered in front of the Cyprus High Commission before marching towards Downing Street and Parliament Square.

They held signs reading “We believe her” and “Boycott Cyprus”.

“I want to send a message to the Cyprus authorities that I would like them to carry out a proper investigation, to apologise to the young lady for not allowing her access to her full rights,” said accountant Kirsty Oliver, 49.

“It’s a really tragic case of violation of human rights,” added Ella Benami, a documentary filmmaker in her 50s.

“Everybody in the story is completely biased against the woman. Her part of the story is not heard.”

The teenager faces up to a year in prison and a fine of 1,700 euros (1,500 pounds, $1,900).

She urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday to intervene.

“Time is running out for me. Please, please help,” she said, according to tabloid newspaper The Sun.

Britain’s Foreign Office said last week it was “seriously concerned” about whether she had received a fair trial.