Alleged Rape of British Tourist: Police Arraigns Five Israeli Men
Five Israeli men charged with the gang rape of a 20-year-old British woman last month have been arraigned in Cyprus court.
The alleged attack is said to have taken place at a hotel in Ayia Napa, a popular tourist resort.
A packed courtroom in Famagusta, just north of Ayia Napa, was filled with relatives of the defendants who turned up in a show of support.
The defendants are all aged 19 or 20 and come from the Israeli Arab town of Majd al-Krum.
They denied the charges when it was read to them.
At the hearing, their lawyers complained that they had not yet seen key evidence, including the DNA report.
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One claimed the report could show his two clients were not in the room at the time of the alleged attack on 3 September.
The state prosecutor said the DNA report would be ready by the end of the day.
After the hearing was adjourned, the defendants’ families rushed to embrace them, with one of the men visibly crying as he hugged his mother.
A former Cypriot MP, Skevi Koukouma, also attended the hearing with members of a leading women’s movement, Pogo.
Ms. Koukouma said they were there to send a message that “victims should feel they can speak out and can be believed”. “They are not alone,” she added.
The trial will resume on 16 October.
Israel’s foreign ministry initially said six citizens had been arrested over the alleged attack.
Source: BBC
