The Sunday Times Interviews Second Ayia Napa Gang Rape Victim Who is Represented by Justice Abroad
The Sunday Times article published on 13 April 2025, is based upon an in-depth interview with the complainant in the second Ayia Napa gang rape case. The case was concerned allegations of rape against the young British holidaymaker at a pool party at a hotel by five Israeli men at on 3 September 2023. She was on holiday with friends celebrating her 20th birthday when the attack occurred.
Despite the arrest of all five men, the presence of DNA evidence, and Sophie’s four days of testimony, the Cypriot Court acquitted the defendants on 31 March 2025. The Times reports that Sophie is now suffering from long-term trauma from what has taken place against her.
Michael Polak, who represented Sophie during the proceedings and also acted in the 2019 Ayia Napa case that led to a successful appeal to the Cyprus Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights in X v Cyprus stated in the article that:
“Following the publicity in relation to the last Ayia Napa rape case, there was a lot of noise made about improving things in Cyprus in relation to the investigation of sexual offences. However, unfortunately this has not taken place.”
He added:
“On behalf of the young victim in this case we call on the attorney-general to appeal against the acquittals. She is openly gay and the idea that she entered into consensual group sex with the defendants who did not even speak the same language is preposterous.”
As The Times reported, the Attorney-General had 14 days from the court’s decision to file an appeal. Following the article’s publication and mounting concern over the handling of the case, the Attorney-General has now exercised that power and appealed the decision yesterday, on 15 April 2025. The case will now move to the Court of Appeal for judges there to consider the evidence in the case.
Michael Polak commented on the Attorney-General’s appeal:
“We are pleased that the Attorney-General has responded to this serious miscarriage of justice by appealing the decision to acquit the defendants. It is a crucial that women in Cyprus see that their rights will be protected when subject to serious sexual offences.”
The case bears similarities to the 2019 Ayia Napa case, where a British teenager was prosecuted for public mischief after reporting a gang rape. That conviction was overturned by the Cypriot Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights recently found in X v Cyprus that the Cypriot authorities breached her rights under Articles 3 and 8 of the Convention and criticised the investigation in that case for reflecting “prejudicial gender stereotypes and victim-blaming attitudes.”
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