A&nbsp;British&nbsp;teenager accused of faking a gang&nbsp;rape&nbsp;allegation was given a&nbsp;suspended&nbsp;sentence by a court in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israels-pm-benjamin-netanyahu-in-apparent-stumble-calls-israel-a-nuclear-power-272310">Cyprus</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday in a case that prompted a rare rebuke from Britain and protests from activists who say she did not get a fair&nbsp;trial.

The 19-year-old says she was coerced by police into dropping a complaint that she was&nbsp;raped by a group of Israeli youths in the holiday resort of Ayia Napa in July. She was convicted on December&nbsp;30 of public mischief over the withdrawn&nbsp;rape&nbsp;report.

Dressed in black and standing silently before the judge in a packed courtroom, the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was sentenced to four months in&nbsp;jail,&nbsp;suspended&nbsp;for three years.

Raising his voice over chants from supporters of the woman outside, Judge Michalis Papathanasiou said the sentence took into account her age, clean criminal record and remorse, and that he was giving her a "second chance".

"All mitigating factors were taken into account but it does not negate the seriousness of the offense," Papathanasiou said, noting that 12 individuals had been briefly detained on the basis of her accusation.

Police ordered window blinds in the courtroom to be pulled down to block the sight of about 150 protesters who shouted slogans like "Blaming the victim is the second&nbsp;rape" and "Cyprus&nbsp;justice, shame on you".

<img alt="Activists take part in a demonstration outside the Famagusta courthouse in Paralimni, Cyprus" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="eadefbad-1871-4d74-b66d-4af82c74b59b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2817%29_2.jpg" /> 
[Activists take part in a demonstration to support the british teen outside the Famagusta courthouse in Paralimni, Cyprus (Courtesy: Reuters)]

"We are here to raise social awareness of&nbsp;rape. There is no justice here," said Dana Salmon, one of almost 60 activists from Israel who had flown in to support the woman.

Lawyers say the woman is suffering from post-traumatic stress and will appeal to clear her name.

"The fight for her innocence will go on regardless," said Lewis Power QC, who was assisting the local defense team.

"We will maintain this young girl was stripped of her dignity and basic human rights."

The woman insists that an assault took place and that she was pressured to withdraw her complaint during overnight questioning from police and with no lawyer present. One defence witness, a former state forensic pathologist, said her injuries were consistent with&nbsp;rape.

The case has shone a harsh spotlight on&nbsp;Cyprus, which is popular with&nbsp;British&nbsp;holidaymakers and prompted calls to boycott the island.

British&nbsp;Foreign Secretary <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-boris-johnson-exclaimed-with-f-word-in-reaction-to-soleimanis-killing-in-us-airstrikes-272225">Dominic Raab</a>, who has expressed "very serious concerns" about the woman's treatment, said he was relieved she would be returning home after being barred from leaving the island.

"We will be following up on some of the issues in relation to the case, I spoke to the Cypriot foreign minister about that," he said, adding there was no immediate plan to change the travel advice to&nbsp;Cyprus&nbsp;for Britons.

Twelve Israeli youths who were detained for questioning were swiftly released after the woman recanted her accusation. They were not required to give any evidence at the woman's&nbsp;trial.

Cypriot newspapers have reported that President Nicos Anastasiades might pardon the woman, although a senior government source told reporters that was premature.

Lawyers for the woman say they will press ahead with an appeal because a pardon would not expunge her criminal record.

A British teenager accused of faking a gang rape allegation was given a suspended sentence by a court in Cyprus on Tuesday in a case that prompted a rare rebuke from Britain and protests from activists who say she did not get a fair trial.

A British teenager accused of faking a gang rape allegation was given a suspended sentence by a court in Cyprus on Tuesday in a case that prompted a rare rebuke from Britain and protests from activists who say she did not get a fair trial. The 19-year-old says she was coerced by police into dropping a complaint that she was raped by a group of Israeli youths in the holiday resort of Ayia Napa in July. She was convicted on December 30 of public mischief over the withdrawn rape report. Dressed in black and standing silently before the judge in a packed courtroom, the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was sentenced to four months in jail, suspended for three years. Raising his voice over chants from supporters of the woman outside, Judge Michalis Papathanasiou said the sentence took into account her age, clean criminal record and remorse, and that he was giving her a "second chance". "All mitigating factors were taken into account but it does not negate the seriousness of the offense," Papathanasiou said, noting that 12 individuals had been briefly detained on the basis of her accusation. Police ordered window blinds in the courtroom to be pulled down to block the sight of about 150 protesters who shouted slogans like "Blaming the victim is the second rape" and "Cyprus justice, shame on you". [Activists take part in a demonstration to support the british teen outside the Famagusta courthouse in Paralimni, Cyprus (Courtesy: Reuters)] "We are here to raise social awareness of rape. There is no justice here," said Dana Salmon, one of almost 60 activists from Israel who had flown in to support the woman. Lawyers say the woman is suffering from post-traumatic stress and will appeal to clear her name. "The fight for her innocence will go on regardless," said Lewis Power QC, who was assisting the local defense team. "We will maintain this young girl was stripped of her dignity and basic human rights." The woman insists that an assault took place and that she was pressured to withdraw her complaint during overnight questioning from police and with no lawyer present. One defence witness, a former state forensic pathologist, said her injuries were consistent with rape. The case has shone a harsh spotlight on Cyprus, which is popular with British holidaymakers and prompted calls to boycott the island. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who has expressed "very serious concerns" about the woman's treatment, said he was relieved she would be returning home after being barred from leaving the island. "We will be following up on some of the issues in relation to the case, I spoke to the Cypriot foreign minister about that," he said, adding there was no immediate plan to change the travel advice to Cyprus for Britons. Twelve Israeli youths who were detained for questioning were swiftly released after the woman recanted her accusation. They were not required to give any evidence at the woman's trial. Cypriot newspapers have reported that President Nicos Anastasiades might pardon the woman, although a senior government source told reporters that was premature. Lawyers for the woman say they will press ahead with an appeal because a pardon would not expunge her criminal record.

UK teen in Cyprus gang rape case handed four-month suspended jail sentence

A student survivor of the Parkland school shooting called out US President Donald Trump today over his ties to the powerful National Rifle Association, in a poignant address to an anti-gun rally in Florida.

&quot;To every politician taking donations from the NRA, shame on you!&quot; said Emma Gonzalez, assailing Trump over the multi-million-dollar support his campaign received from the gun lobby -- and prompting the crowd to chant in turn: &quot;Shame on you!&quot;

Wednesday&#39;s massacre, which claimed 17 lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, has fuelled urgent calls for an end to the national deadlock over gun control -- with a string of shooting survivors rallying behind the cause.

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<h5>If the president wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy and... How nothing is going to be done about it, Im going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association,&#39; said Gonzalez</h5>
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The gunman, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, was able to legally buy an assault rifle despite a history of troubling and violent behavior.

In Washington, however, the political response has made clear that the powerful NRA pro-gun lobby remains formidable, while Trump himself suggested the root cause of mass shootings was a crisis of mental health -- making no mention of gun control.

&quot;If the president wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy and... How nothing is going to be done about it, Im going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association,&quot; said Gonzalez.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-for-healing-after-florida-school-shooting-33004" target="_blank">Trump says will make schools safer after Florida shooting</a>

&quot;It doesnt matter because I already know. Thirty million,&quot; she told the rally attended by fellow students, parents and local officials, citing the sum spent by the NRA to support Trumps election bid and defeat Hillary Clinton.

Dividing that sum by the number of shooting victims in the United States so far this year, Gonzalez asked: &quot;Is that how much these people are worth to you, Trump?&quot; The young woman&#39;s powerful address immediately went viral, with her name a top trending topic on Twitter. 
 
The US leader also tweeted a day after the massacre that that neighbors and fellow students had failed to flag Cruz to the authorities.

&quot;We did,&quot; Gonzalez said, her shaking with emotion. &quot;Time and time again. Since he was in middle school. It was no surprise to anyone who knew him to hear that he was the shooter.&quot;

US authorities have come under mounting scrutiny for failing to act on a series of warning signs.

The FBI admitted Friday it received a chilling warning in January from a tipster who said Cruz could be planning a mass shooting, but that agents failed to follow up.

Cruz was also known to local police after his mother repeatedly called them over his violent outbursts, while records obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel show welfare services investigated Cruz after he cut his arms and said he wanted to buy a gun.&nbsp;

'To every politician taking donations from the NRA, shame on you!' said Emma Gonzalez, assailing Trump over the multi-million-dollar support his campaign received from the gun lobby

A student survivor of the Parkland school shooting called out US President Donald Trump today over his ties to the powerful National Rifle Association, in a poignant address to an anti-gun rally in Florida. "To every politician taking donations from the NRA, shame on you!" said Emma Gonzalez, assailing Trump over the multi-million-dollar support his campaign received from the gun lobby -- and prompting the crowd to chant in turn: "Shame on you!" Wednesday's massacre, which claimed 17 lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, has fuelled urgent calls for an end to the national deadlock over gun control -- with a string of shooting survivors rallying behind the cause. If the president wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy and... How nothing is going to be done about it, Im going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association,' said Gonzalez × The gunman, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, was able to legally buy an assault rifle despite a history of troubling and violent behavior. In Washington, however, the political response has made clear that the powerful NRA pro-gun lobby remains formidable, while Trump himself suggested the root cause of mass shootings was a crisis of mental health -- making no mention of gun control. "If the president wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy and... How nothing is going to be done about it, Im going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association," said Gonzalez. Also read: Trump says will make schools safer after Florida shooting "It doesnt matter because I already know. Thirty million," she told the rally attended by fellow students, parents and local officials, citing the sum spent by the NRA to support Trumps election bid and defeat Hillary Clinton. Dividing that sum by the number of shooting victims in the United States so far this year, Gonzalez asked: "Is that how much these people are worth to you, Trump?" The young woman's powerful address immediately went viral, with her name a top trending topic on Twitter. The US leader also tweeted a day after the massacre that that neighbors and fellow students had failed to flag Cruz to the authorities. "We did," Gonzalez said, her shaking with emotion. "Time and time again. Since he was in middle school. It was no surprise to anyone who knew him to hear that he was the shooter." US authorities have come under mounting scrutiny for failing to act on a series of warning signs. The FBI admitted Friday it received a chilling warning in January from a tipster who said Cruz could be planning a mass shooting, but that agents failed to follow up. Cruz was also known to local police after his mother repeatedly called them over his violent outbursts, while records obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel show welfare services investigated Cruz after he cut his arms and said he wanted to buy a gun.

'Shame on you!' Florida school shooting survivor tells Trump at anti-gun rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s allegation against his predecessor Manmohan Singh over the Gujarat polls drew more condemnation today with NCP chief Sharad Pawar telling him &quot;shame on you&quot; and Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi calling it unacceptable.

Key BJP ally Shiv Sena also launched a sharp attack on Modi, saying that dragging Pakistan into Gujarat election campaign was an &quot;impious&quot; way of trying to win the polls.

The prime minister at a poll rally in Gujarat&nbsp;on Sunday&nbsp;sought to link a dinner meeting hosted by suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar for Pakistan dignitaries and attended by Manmohan Singh among others with the ongoing Assembly polls and a conspiracy against the BJP.

Modi had insinuated that his predecessor had colluded with Pakistan for BJP&#39;s defeat at the polls. The former premier responded by saying Modi was setting a &quot;dangerous precedent&quot; and asked him to apologise to the nation, a demand rejected by the union government.

Pawar criticised Modi for &quot;deliberately&quot; misconstruing the dinner meeting at Mani Shankar Aiyar&#39;s residence on December 6 and presenting it as a conspiracy by Pakistan to interfere in the Gujarat polls.

The meeting took place a day before Aiyar&#39;s &quot;neech aadmi&quot;(lowly person) jibe against Modi that led to his suspension from the party.

&quot;Shame on you, Prime Minister for making such allegations. You have made the allegations against this country&#39;s former prime minister and former Defence officials,&quot; Pawar, a former Defence minister, said.

&quot;Modi&#39;s government has not solved issues of farmers and other issues the country faces, but he is bringing the Pakistan angle as a diversionary tactic for Gujarat elections,&quot; Pawar said at a public rally -- &#39;Halla Bol&#39; -- organised by the Congress and the NCP in Nagpur on issues relating to agrarian crisis.

Modi has demeaned the office of the prime minister, Pawar alleged.

Rahul Gandhi hit out at the prime minister for his remarks against Manmohan Singh while addressing a press conference in Ahmedabad on the final day of campaigning for the Assembly polls.

&quot;What Modiji has said about former PM Manmohan Singh is not acceptable,&quot; he said.

In an editorial in its mouthpiece &#39;Saamana&#39;, the Shiv Sena said a prime minister is supposed to take action and not level allegations.

&quot;Prime Minister Modi has levelled a serious charge that Pakistan is interfering in Gujarat polls. We can understand the worries of Modi but a PM is supposed to take action and not level allegations.

&quot;Gujarat has become even more important than Kashmir. Until yesterday, Pakistan was interfering in Kashmir and China was interfering in Leh, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh,&quot; it said.

Nowadays, in all elections, either Pakistan or fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim is brought at the forefront, the Sena quipped.

&quot;When sand below the feet starts moving, Pakistan and Dawood chanting begins. It is happening today as well. This is an impious way,&quot; it said.

The Sena further said that even in Bihar polls, BJP&#39;s national president had brought in Pakistan. Despite he saying that crackers will be burst in Pakistan if Nitish Kumar wins, the latter decimated the BJP, it said.

If the prime minister had all the details of the meet at Aiyar&#39;s house and knew the meeting was to undertake anti- national activities, why did he only level allegations and why were all those present at the meeting not arrested and an inquiry conducted, it asked.

&quot;Why are allegations levelled only in election rallies? If an interference from Pakistan is happening, let the Indian Army enter that country and take action, the Sena suggested.

&quot;The country expects Modi to work. How many times will you chant Pakistan&#39;s name?&quot;&nbsp;

Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi called the remarks unacceptable

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's allegation against his predecessor Manmohan Singh over the Gujarat polls drew more condemnation today with NCP chief Sharad Pawar telling him "shame on you" and Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi calling it unacceptable. Key BJP ally Shiv Sena also launched a sharp attack on Modi, saying that dragging Pakistan into Gujarat election campaign was an "impious" way of trying to win the polls. The prime minister at a poll rally in Gujarat on Sunday sought to link a dinner meeting hosted by suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar for Pakistan dignitaries and attended by Manmohan Singh among others with the ongoing Assembly polls and a conspiracy against the BJP. Modi had insinuated that his predecessor had colluded with Pakistan for BJP's defeat at the polls. The former premier responded by saying Modi was setting a "dangerous precedent" and asked him to apologise to the nation, a demand rejected by the union government. Pawar criticised Modi for "deliberately" misconstruing the dinner meeting at Mani Shankar Aiyar's residence on December 6 and presenting it as a conspiracy by Pakistan to interfere in the Gujarat polls. The meeting took place a day before Aiyar's "neech aadmi"(lowly person) jibe against Modi that led to his suspension from the party. "Shame on you, Prime Minister for making such allegations. You have made the allegations against this country's former prime minister and former Defence officials," Pawar, a former Defence minister, said. "Modi's government has not solved issues of farmers and other issues the country faces, but he is bringing the Pakistan angle as a diversionary tactic for Gujarat elections," Pawar said at a public rally -- 'Halla Bol' -- organised by the Congress and the NCP in Nagpur on issues relating to agrarian crisis. Modi has demeaned the office of the prime minister, Pawar alleged. Rahul Gandhi hit out at the prime minister for his remarks against Manmohan Singh while addressing a press conference in Ahmedabad on the final day of campaigning for the Assembly polls. "What Modiji has said about former PM Manmohan Singh is not acceptable," he said. In an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana', the Shiv Sena said a prime minister is supposed to take action and not level allegations. "Prime Minister Modi has levelled a serious charge that Pakistan is interfering in Gujarat polls. We can understand the worries of Modi but a PM is supposed to take action and not level allegations. "Gujarat has become even more important than Kashmir. Until yesterday, Pakistan was interfering in Kashmir and China was interfering in Leh, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh," it said. Nowadays, in all elections, either Pakistan or fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim is brought at the forefront, the Sena quipped. "When sand below the feet starts moving, Pakistan and Dawood chanting begins. It is happening today as well. This is an impious way," it said. The Sena further said that even in Bihar polls, BJP's national president had brought in Pakistan. Despite he saying that crackers will be burst in Pakistan if Nitish Kumar wins, the latter decimated the BJP, it said. If the prime minister had all the details of the meet at Aiyar's house and knew the meeting was to undertake anti- national activities, why did he only level allegations and why were all those present at the meeting not arrested and an inquiry conducted, it asked. "Why are allegations levelled only in election rallies? If an interference from Pakistan is happening, let the Indian Army enter that country and take action, the Sena suggested. "The country expects Modi to work. How many times will you chant Pakistan's name?"

'Shame on you' Pawar tells PM for remarks against Manmohan

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UK teen in Cyprus gang rape case handed four-month suspended jail sentence

'Shame on you!' Florida school shooting survivor tells Trump at anti-gun rally

'Shame on you' Pawar tells PM for remarks against Manmohan