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Lawyers of a young British woman convicted of falsifying a gang-rape claim in ��have said they are “hopeful about getting justice” following an appeal hearing.��

representatives from London-based legal charity Justice Abroad are challenging the 21-year-old’s sentence, issued in January 2020 by a Cypriot district court judge on grounds��that her allegation - later retracted - caused public mischief.��

During an appealing hearing at the Supreme Court on Thursday, her lawyers argued “the conviction is unsafe,” because the withdrawal statement was given under duress.��

“We believe….that things went well,” said Michael Polak from Justice Abroad following the appeal hearing.��

“The Justice engaged with our arguments, so we are hopeful about getting justice.”��

The 21-year-old��from Derbyshire alleged she was by a group of Israeli tourists, aged 15 to 22, while on holiday in Cyprus in July 2019.��

She then retracted her allegation, which was used by prosecutors to convict her of lying about the rape claim, resulting in a four-month suspended ����Գٱ�Գ���.��

Justice Abroad believes the retraction should not have been admitted as evidence because it was made after six hours of questioning without a lawyer or translator.����

They also argued the judge “started from a position of staying that rape did not take place [then] refused to hear evidence which showed that it did.”��

If the appeal does not succeed, they’ve said the case will go to the European Court of Human Rights.��

Appeal in the Supreme Court in the Ayia Napa gang rape case of a young British woman by allegedly Israelis, has been launched. It’s the most important case in CY in the last ten years in terms also of human rights.

— Euripides L Evriviades 🇨🇾🇪🇺 (@eevriviades)

The��legal battle has captured the attention of activists across the world, with protestors gathering outside the Supreme Court in the capital city Nicosia holding banners reading “#IBelieveHer”.��

“It is so important for young women across the world. This is a beacon,” said the young woman’s barrister, Lewis Power QC.��

Her legal team hope this case will set a precedent for other human rights abuses and reported in Cyprus.��

By overturning the conviction, “this girl can free herself from the shackles of an unjust conviction which has tarnished her young life,” said Power.��

The 21-year-old - who suffers from PTSD - did not attend the appeal hearing, instead, she is focusing on life in the UK.��

There has been no ruling yet, and it could take up to six months for a verdict to come through.��