Five Israelis indicted for alleged gang rape in Ayia Nappa

Court proceedings against the Israelis will take place in Cyprus' Famagusta district court, as per local reports. 

 A police bus with Israeli tourists, arrested over the alleged rape of a British tourist in the resort town of Ayia Napa, leaves the Famagusta courthouse in Paralimni, Cyprus July 26, 2019 (photo credit: REUTERS/YIANNIS KOURTOGLOU)
A police bus with Israeli tourists, arrested over the alleged rape of a British tourist in the resort town of Ayia Napa, leaves the Famagusta courthouse in Paralimni, Cyprus July 26, 2019
(photo credit: REUTERS/YIANNIS KOURTOGLOU)

Five Israelis were indicted on Monday for their alleged involvement in the gang rape of a British tourist in the Greek resort town of Aiya Nappa earlier in September.

Court proceedings against the Israelis, residents of the northern Arab town of Majd al-Krum, will take place in Cyprus’ Famagusta district court, as per local reports.

The five suspects, all 19-20 years old, were arrested in Cyprus before their arrest was extended for eight days as police gathered evidence.

The incident mirrored a similar one in which a British woman was gang raped by 12 Israelis in 2019 in the same Cypriot city.

People walk in Ayia Napa, after Cyprus opened up its airports following a nationwide lockdown amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the resort of Ayia Napa Cyprus June 9, 2020 (credit: REUTERS/YIANNIS KOURTOGLOU)
People walk in Ayia Napa, after Cyprus opened up its airports following a nationwide lockdown amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the resort of Ayia Napa Cyprus June 9, 2020 (credit: REUTERS/YIANNIS KOURTOGLOU)

'We hope that Cypriot authorities don't add insult to injury'

Earlier this month, the 2019 victim spoke out on the recent events and told the Daily Mail that “we send our heartfelt support to the young woman at the center of these reports.

“We hope that the Cypriot authorities don’t add the insult to injury of victim-blaming that led to pre-trial imprisonment and the wrongful prosecution.”