Gerapetritis: The two Greeks detained in Turkey are being prosecuted over the message “Orthodoxy or Death”

The 2 Greeks who person been detained successful Istanbul since Holy Thursday are not being prosecuted for displaying the Greek emblem astatine Hagia Sophia, but for the written connection “Orthodoxy oregon Death,” Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said portion responding to a parliamentary question from autarkic MP Giorgos Manousos.

According to Gerapetritis, the 2 Greeks are accused of inciting hatred and hostility, which “does not interest exclusively the show of the flag, but the written connection it contained.” He besides distinguished the lawsuit from that of six cadets from the Hellenic Air Force Academy who had displayed a emblem astatine the aforesaid tract successful December 2024 and were aboriginal released.

The 2 Greeks were arrested connected Holy Thursday and are being held successful abstracted correctional facilities successful Istanbul. According to Gerapetritis, the Greek Consulate General remains successful regular interaction some with the detainees and with their ineligible defence team. He added that the authorities is seeking either a swift proceedings oregon the replacement of pretrial detention with restrictive conditions.

For his part, Manousos spoke of a “fearful cognition toward Turkey” and demanded their contiguous release, recalling that a Turkish person had raised a Turkish emblem successful Syntagma Square successful 2022 without facing immoderate consequences.