Two tourists arrested in Istanbul after displaying flag in Hagia Sophia

On April 11, two individuals were arrested at Hagia Sophia in Istanbul after displaying a flag featuring a double-headed eagle and the phrase 'Orthodoxy or Death'. The detainees include a Greek woman and a man holding dual Greek and Australian citizenship. Reports indicate they were part of an organized tour group and used the flag to pose for photographs in the upper gallery of the monument. Turkish authorities charged the pair with inciting hatred, hostility, and insulting public sentiments. The man is currently being held at Maltepe prison, while the woman is detained at the Bakirkoy courthouse. Although the Greek consulate has offered legal assistance, the detainees have chosen to work with court-appointed Turkish legal counsel. An application for their release pending trial has been submitted. The Greek authorities are monitoring the situation and have requested a consular visit scheduled for Friday.