An alleged child rapist is fighting extradition to Cyprus – claiming the island he visited on holiday is too dangerous.
Mohammed Latifi, 19, had flown to Ayia Napa last year before he ‘kidnapped’ a 13-year-old he met on a beach.
He allegedly launched an assault that left the girl crying in pain before she escaped.
Now he is fighting extradition back to Cyprus claiming ‘his life will be in danger’ from its Turkish community, as he is a Kurd.
District judge Jo Matson rejected Latifi’s claim, saying: ‘I do not accept this is the case. If it were, why on earth would he have travelled on holiday there?’
Mohammed Latifi, 19, had flown to Ayia Napa last year before he ‘kidnapped’ a 13-year-old he met on a beach (pictured in Paphos, Cyprus)
Latifi (pictured) accepts he had sex with a girl, but denies any offences, saying he believed her to be 17 or older and that she consented
Judge Matson granted the extradition request from Famagusta District Court (above) in Cyprus
Judge Matson granted the extradition request from Famagusta District Court in Cyprus.
But Latifi was granted bail while he appeals – and has been seen living free in Leeds while wearing a tag.
The judgment says Latifi is an Iraqi Kurd whose family moved to Iran when he was a child.
The judge added: ‘He arrived in the UK in 2017, unaccompanied, as an illegal immigrant transported in a lorry. He has been given five years’ leave to remain in the UK having been granted political asylum from Iran.’
Latifi was accommodated by Leeds social services while at senior school, before moving in to a house in the city with his elder sister and younger brother.
His parents are said to be living ‘undocumented’ in Iraq, though a neighbour said the father had been seen at the sister’s property. Latifi was last year working as a barber, and the court was told he was receiving universal credit while studying engineering at Leeds City College.
He managed to finance a holiday to Cyprus in July last year, and posted a picture of himself there on a moped on Facebook.
Latifi is now fighting extradition back to Cyprus claiming ‘his life will be in danger’ from its Turkish community, as he is a Kurd. Pictured: Ayia Napa, Cyprus (stock)
Cypriot authorities, represented at Westminster Magistrates Court by Amanda Bostock, said Latifi arranged to meet the girl at his apartment. ‘Once there, he raped her despite her crying from pain and asking him to stop. The complainant… escaped when he went to the toilet.’
The girl told police – but by the time they went to speak to Latifi, he had flown home.
An international arrest warrant on charges of rape, sexual abuse of a child, kidnapping, indecent assault and harassment, with a maximum sentence of life in jail, was issued. Within days Latifi was arrested, but told police they would ‘need to force him’ to Cyprus.
Latifi accepts he had sex with a girl, but denies any offences, saying he believed her to be 17 or older and that she consented.
He claims extradition would interfere with his ‘rights to a private and family life’ under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Judge Matson noted in her ruling: ‘Latifi said he did not feel safe going to Cyprus as a Kurdish person.
He was asked why he went on holiday there… and he said he had heard it was a fun place, and he didn’t say he was Kurdish when he was there.’
The extradition request is in any case to the southern, majority Greek portion of divided Cyprus, not to the largely Turkish northern enclave.
Latifi, who has no previous convictions, did not comment.
