Greek tourists get suspended sentences in Turkey over Hagia Sophia flag incident

A Turkish tribunal successful Istanbul has sentenced two Greek tourists to 10-month situation terms, suspended for 5 years, aft they unfurled a Greek War of Independence-era emblem wrong Hagia Sophia.

The incidental astatine the historical monument, primitively built successful the 6th period arsenic a Byzantine cathedral under Emperor Justinian I and present functioning arsenic a mosque, occurred connected April 9. 

The emblem – a bluish tract with a white transverse symbolizing Orthodox Christianity and the motto “Orthodoxy oregon Death” – was reportedly brought wrong by a 42-year-old man, who concealed it under his coat. He was assisted by a 35-year-old woman. Both were portion of a radical of Greek tourists visiting Istanbul.

The enactment was captured connected video and aboriginal led Turkish constabulary to detain the brace astatine their hotel. They were taken into custody connected April 11 connected charges of “insulting a conception of the public,” under Turkish law.

The individuals are nary longer successful detention and are expected to instrumentality to Greece aft the completion of administrative procedures.