Reactions continue in Britain to the conviction of the Famagusta District Court against the 19-year-old Briton who was found guilty of falsely reporting rape by 12 young Israelis.
Following last night's statement by a Foreign Office spokesman, who expressed "serious concerns about the guarantees of a fair trial" in this "sad case", the developments are the main topic on the front pages of the Daily Telegraph, Sun, Daily Mail and Guardian. while a photo of the 19-year-old is also on the front page of the Independent.
In response to a Foreign Office spokesman's comment that London would raise the issue with the Cypriot authorities, the Telegraph quoted sources as saying that Foreign Minister Dominique Raab, a human rights lawyer, had been following the case closely. "Takes extremely seriously issues of access to justice".
The BBC's chief diplomat comments that the Foreign Office statement is "unusual" and "interesting", as it is a common practice to avoid taking legal action abroad against British nationals. "Officials want to avoid accusations of interference in the courts of a sovereign state. (…) They may reckon in this case that a little public pressure now could have an impact on the judge's sentencing decision next month. "He could, for example, give the unnamed British woman a sentence equivalent to more than four weeks already spent in Cypriot prison," explains James Landale.
The Telegraph also cites statements by activists from Cyprus who claim that local authorities always find reasons not to believe women who complain that they have been raped.
The Sun quotes the 19-year-old as saying that she was not surprised by the decision based on how "from one moment to the next I was found guilty by a victim".
Nevertheless, she states that she is determined to clear her name. She adds that she has been contacted by other women who have undergone similar experience in Cyprus and notes that the battle she will give through an appeal "is a battle for them as well".
The Daily Mail hints that Cypriot authorities may have sought ways to acquit the 12 Israelis of rape, as the case was a "communication disaster and a diplomatic nightmare" for a country that relies so heavily on tourism and pays so much. importance in friendly relations with Israel.
The Guardian newspaper cites activists in Cyprus who also believe that the case was taken where it was taken so as not to disrupt diplomatic relations with Israel.
The British media also refer to the hashtag #BoycottCyprus, which has been active on Twitter since yesterday, gathering many posts from users calling on the British and others to boycott Cyprus as a tourist destination because "it is not safe for women".
It is recalled that a campaign was launched on twitter with the hashtag #BoycottCyprus, calling on the British not to choose Cyprus for holidays.
At the same time, the Attorney General of the Republic, Costas Clerides, states in his announcement today that any intervention in the criminal case of causing public harm with an accused young British woman "would be nothing but an obstacle to the verification of the facts and the case."
Finally, the Government Spokesman made a statement on the case of the British citizen who is being tried before the Famagusta District Court.
Source: sigmalive