**Title: Two Women Arrested Over TikTok Abuse Video Following Public Outcry**
In a significant development, two women were arrested on Thursday in connection with a TikTok livestream that allegedly involved the encouragement of a child with Down syndrome to expose himself. The arrests were made by the police's cybercrime unit after a thorough assessment of the evidence collected during an ongoing inquiry.
The incident, which has drawn widespread condemnation, centers around a video that circulated online, prompting outrage from various disability organizations. The police confirmed that the livestream featured the women allegedly mocking the child while urging him to display his genitals. Following the video's dissemination, numerous complaints were lodged by members of the public, leading to the initiation of a police investigation.
Initial findings indicated that the women could be heard in the video making inappropriate requests towards the child. Notably, a complaint regarding the incident had been filed with the police as early as June 1; however, the investigation was halted when officers were unable to identify the individuals involved. The case resurfaced in the public eye after advocacy from organizations representing people with disabilities, which criticized the initial handling of the investigation and called for accountability for those responsible.
The chairwoman of the Cyprus Confederation of People with Disabilities’ Organizations (Kysoa), Themis Anthopoulou, expressed her concerns regarding the police's inability to identify the individuals involved for nearly two months. She highlighted that an ordinary member of the public was able to identify them within an hour, raising questions about the urgency and effectiveness of the police response. Anthopoulou stated, “Circulating a video is equivalent to the abuse recorded in the video,” urging the public to refrain from sharing the footage further.
In her remarks, Anthopoulou noted that she had previously contacted the justice ministry regarding her concerns about the investigation's progress and was informed that her worries were justified. She acknowledged that while there had been good cooperation with the police in other cases, this particular investigation only gained momentum after public intervention.
As the situation unfolds, the two women are expected to appear before a court later on Thursday, where the police will request their continued detention. The police are continuing their investigations into the circumstances surrounding the livestream, focusing on any potential offenses related to both its creation and distribution.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the treatment of individuals with disabilities and the responsibilities of social media platforms in monitoring content that could lead to abuse. Advocacy groups are calling for stricter regulations and more proactive measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As the investigation continues, the community remains vigilant, with many expressing hope that justice will be served for the child involved and that measures will be taken to protect vulnerable individuals from such exploitation.