Case of 23-Year-Old Transgender Woman Raises Concerns About Prison Conditions in Cyprus Again

Issues related to the detention of transgender prisoners due to the lack of clearly established procedures have again come to the forefront following the case of a 23-year-old Brazilian citizen, sentenced by the Larnaca Permanent Criminal Court to six years in prison.

The convicted person is a transgender woman who has legally recognized her gender identity. After being sentenced in a case involving the transportation of 890 grams of cocaine, she requested to be held in a women's prison. However, she has currently been placed temporarily in a separate facility, outside the general prisoner population.

According to reports, this decision was made for safety reasons, to reduce the risk of violence or targeted attacks.

The court attached particular importance to her detention conditions, considering them a mitigating factor. The convict’s lawyer, Evanthia Constantinou, emphasized the need for a permanent institutional solution, noting that penitentiary systems—both in Cyprus and elsewhere—face serious challenges in ensuring the rights and safety of prisoners with increased vulnerability.

It was also noted that the woman experiences acute feelings of isolation and insecurity, as she does not speak Greek or English, significantly limiting her communication, social adaptation, and participation in educational or rehabilitation programs.

The court also took into account the defendant’s difficult life history. At age 14, she began the process of gender transition, after which she had to leave her hometown and move to São Paulo. After the disappearance of the person she lived with, she began receiving threats directed at herself and her family, related to third-party debts.

According to the court, under pressure and fear, she agreed to transport drugs as a way to “settle debts.” The convict stated that she was forced to swallow cocaine capsules, and some of the drugs were hidden in her underwear.

She was detained on October 21, 2025, in Larnaca upon arrival from Qatar. During an initial airport check, 540 grams of cocaine were found on her, after which she admitted to having swallowed an additional 35 capsules weighing a total of 350 grams, which were later extracted at Larnaca Hospital.