Turkish police detain Greeks for Byzantine flag in Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia. Photo: UOJ

On April 9, 2026, two tourists from Greece were detained in Istanbul after attempting to unfurl a Byzantine flag inside Hagia Sophia, reports Orthodoxia.info.

The incident occurred in the afternoon on Holy Thursday during an organized tour. A man and woman passed standard entrance security checks, then went up to the upper gallery where they took out a flag hidden under their clothing for photography. 

Security personnel responded promptly to the situation: noticing what was happening through surveillance cameras, they immediately went up to the gallery and stopped the attempt to display the flag.

The tourists were then handed over to law enforcement authorities. They are currently facing court proceedings where they are charged with public insult. The situation has caused notable public response, considering the historical and religious significance of Hagia Sophia for the Orthodox world.

Previously, Patriarch Bartholomew emphasized the importance of developing good neighborly relations between Greece and Turkey, noting the significance of dialogue and mutual respect for stability in the region.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the European Parliament condemned Turkey for deportations of Christians from the country.

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