In a case closely followed by rights groups, a district court in the town of Paralimni ruled the woman, who was aged 19 at the time, had lied about being sexually abused by 12 Israeli teenagers. Sentencing was set for January 7. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested after police said she had withdrawn an accusation that the teenagers had raped her in a hotel room at the holiday resort of Ayia Napa in July.
She was convicted of public mischief, which carries a fine, a jail term of up to one year, or both.
The woman maintained that she had recanted her accusation under duress from police during persistent questioning without a lawyer present. Prosecutors and the court dismissed the claim.
The presiding judge described her claims as inconsistent and said she had attempted to mislead the court.
A women’s rights activist outside the court (Image: AFP)
Defence lawyer Nicoletta Charalambidou (Image: AFP)
He added: “My conclusion is that the guilt of the accused has been proven beyond reasonable doubt.”
Her legal team said she would appeal. Nonetheless, they urged the court to exercise leniency in sentencing, including the possibility of suspending any jail term.
Lawyer Nicoletta Charalambidou said: “We believe there have been many violations in the procedure and the rights of fair trial of our client have been violated.”
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Demonstrators unfurled a banner outside the courtroom (Image: AFP)
The Israelis were released without charge 10 days after being arrested, on the day the woman retracted her accusation.
The individuals she had accused were not summoned to court because prosecutors considered the case one of public mischief, not rape.
In testimony in open court, the defendant said she had been in a hotel room with one of the Israeli youths, with whom she had a relationship, before others appeared and she was pinned down.
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Michael Polak said the conviction was “worrying” (Image: BBC)
A demonstration outside the court (Image: AFP)
It’s a very worrying conviction for a number of reasons
One defence witness, Marios Matsakis, a forensic pathologist who formerly worked for the state, said the woman’s injuries were consistent with rape.
Prosecutors said she had fabricated the allegation, angry at being filmed during sex.
Michael Polak, director of Justice Abroad which is assisting the woman, told the BBC News the woman had been diagnosed as suffering from PTSD after the incident, adding: “It’s a very worrying conviction for a number of reasons.”
Another demonstrator in the courthouse (Image: AFP)
Mr Polak, who said the teenager’s lawyers was considering an appeal, added: “It should be noted that none of the Israeli youths were called to give evidence about what happened in the hotel room that night.
“So what the court was left with is the evidence from the teenager about what happened.
“And there was supporting evidence, we say, which goes to show that she was actually telling the truth.”
Nicoletta Charalambidou speaks to reporters (Image: AFP)
Outside the court, Zelia Gregoriou, an activist who stood with about 20 individuals protesting against the verdict, said: “This victim was never protected, from the first instance.
“From the first instance, she was raped again and again by the press, by society and the legal system.”
The woman left the courthouse with a blanket over her face and a handkerchief around her mouth, imprinted with an image of female lips sewn shut.