Turkish authorities arrested two Greek tourists for unfurling a Greek flag with the Byzantine eagle and chanting slogans inside the Hagia Sophia, the former Greek Orthodox cathedral turned into a mosque.
According to media information, on the flag there was also the inscription “Orthodoxy or Death.”
The two, a woman with a Greek passport and a man with Greek and Australian passports, reportedly entered Hagia Sophia as members of an organized visitors’ group .
After passing through security checks, they moved to the upper floor of the gallery, which is open to visitors.
Then one of the tourists took out a flag that he had hidden inside his jacket and unfurled it. After posing for a photo, he handed the flag to another member of the group, who then posed for a photo.
Ayasofya'da bayrak açan 2 Yunan turist tutuklandı.
pic.twitter.com/mKcwWxVTJ3— DarkWeb Haber (@darkwebhaber) April 14, 2026
Security personnel quickly caught the situation on surveillance cameras and intervened, while another member of the group appeared ready to hold the same flag.
The incident took place in Istanbul on Holy Saturday, April 11, and was confirmed by the Greek Foreign Ministry today, Tuesday.
The flag depicted the Byzantine double-headed eagle along with a written message that read: “Orthodoxy or Death!”
The two Greek tourists were later taken to the Istanbul court and formally arrested on charges of insulting a section of the public.
The Greek Consulate in Istanbul is providing them with all necessary assistance, the Foreign Ministry said.
