trans inmate — trans inmate — A 23-year-old trans woman serving a six-year prison sentence for smuggling 890 grams of cocaine has been moved to a separate area of the central prison due to safety concerns for her wellbeing.
- Serving her sentence in isolation, according to Constantinou, could lead to significant psychological distress and adversely affect her mental health.
- Attempts by the Cyprus Mail to reach out to the central prison, the association for the protection of prisoners’ rights, and the woman’s lawyer yielded no response.
Reports from local media indicate that the Larnaca criminal court made this decision on Tuesday, acknowledging the potential for violence she could face from other inmates. The woman, who is legally recognised as female, is of Brazilian descent and reportedly faces language barriers, speaking neither Greek nor English.
Initially, she had requested placement in the women’s wing of the central prison. However, the prison department has described her current placement as “temporary”, citing security reasons while ensuring that specific instructions for her supervision and protection are in place. This arrangement allows her to access prison services and activities.
The prison department has maintained that the decision is provisional and has rejected claims that her placement undermines her gender identity. They emphasised their commitment to human dignity and the prohibition of degrading treatment, stating that measures taken are designed to protect all individuals in their custody.
The woman’s lawyer, Evanthia Constantinou, has urged the authorities to reconsider this interim arrangement. She advocates for a solution that aligns with European guidelines and respects her client’s dignity. Constantinou notes that the woman’s inability to communicate due to the language barrier severely limits her ability to engage with others, effectively excluding her from educational and social programmes.
Serving her sentence in isolation, according to Constantinou, could lead to significant psychological distress and adversely affect her mental health.
The court’s ruling took into account the woman’s traumatic background and the circumstances that led her to smuggle drugs. At the age of 14, she underwent her first gender-affirming surgery, prompting her to leave her hometown in Brazil. She subsequently moved to São Paulo, where she lived with another trans individual who was heavily indebted and later disappeared.
Facing threats from her flatmate’s creditors, she found herself in a desperate situation. Fearing for her safety and her family’s, she agreed to transport drugs as a means to pay off the debts. The court noted, “Due to the defendant’s inability to find the required money, and the nature of the threats made against her – which included photographs and personal details of her relatives – she succumbed and accepted to transport the drugs.”
She was apprehended at Larnaca airport on October 21 after arriving on a flight from Qatar, where police discovered over half a kilogram of cocaine hidden in her underwear, in addition to 35 packets of 10 grams each that she had swallowed.
Attempts by the Cyprus Mail to reach out to the central prison, the association for the protection of prisoners’ rights, and the woman’s lawyer yielded no response.
