Arrested nudists face court

By Jean Christou

Ten nude sunbathers, including two men allegedly having gay sex, caught on a public beach in British bases territory at the weekend will face charges on September 25<sup>th</sup>.

The six men and four women were caught frolicking nude near Avdhimou within the western Sovereign Base Area (SBA) of Episkopi around 5pm on Friday.

All were arrested by SBA police who had been observing their behaviour after a tip-off by a member of the public.

Eight of the group, four Cypriot men, three English women married to Cypriots, and a Bulgarian woman could be fined, cautioned or have the case dismissed when they appear at the SBA police station, bases spokesman Rob Need said yesterday.

The fine for indecent exposure is £80, under bases laws which mirror those of the Republic. Need said he could not predict what the other two men, both Cypriots, would be charged with. “It depends on the circumstances and if there is sufficient evidence,” he said. “It is a serious offence.” Conviction for gay sex in public carries a sentence of five years imprisonment.

Eight of the ten were released on bail shortly after their arrest, but the other two men were detained for further questioning before being released later on Friday. They were later released on bail, Need said.

Until two years ago Cypriot legislation outlawed any type of homosexual activity. After a five-year battle with the European Court of Human Rights, Cyprus was forced to change the law and decriminalise gay sex in private between consenting adults but retained legislation on all other aspects of homosexual activity.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.