Greek tourist’s display of Greek flag at Hagia Sophia sparks controversy in Turkey

·

Turkish social media erupted in response to a Greek tourist’s bold action inside Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia. 

Apostolos Papatheodoros, a Greek visitor, caused a stir when he proudly displayed the Greek flag within the historic site and captioned his Instagram post with the words, “My beloved city, forever Greek.”

The image quickly spread across Turkish media platforms, triggering a wave of reactions. Many Turks denounced the act as provocative, questioning how such an action could be permitted within a symbolically significant location.

Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia church in Istanbul. Photo: The Byzantine Legacy, X.

Some even directed their ire towards Turkish authorities for allegedly allowing the incident to occur unchecked.

Among the responses, some took a more aggressive tone, resorting to veiled threats and references to historical events. Comments such as “I hope you know how to swim” and “the sea is cold, my love” drew implicit parallels to the tragic Smyrna disaster, a dark chapter in Greek-Turkish relations.

As reactions continue to pour in on social media, the incident serves as a reminder of the complex dynamics at play in the region.

Source: Protothema.gr.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Historical novel ‘Bound to Two Homelands’ launched in Melbourne and Canberra

Associate Professor Con Aroney's historical novel 'Bound to Two Homelands' launched in Melbourne and Canberra.

Giannis Antetokounmpo co-produces film set on Mykonos island

The Greek basketball superstar, already known for his ventures in energy drinks, wineries, is now adding cinema to his business repertoire.

Mystery of the 300 million euro home listed for sale near the Acropolis

A single-family home on Dionysiou Aeropagitou street, directly across from the Acropolis had been listed setting a new record.

The Economist predicts return of Parthenon Marbles to Greece by 2025

The long-standing dispute over the Parthenon sculptures, also known as thee Elgin Marbles, may see significant progress.

Meet the Greeks among Australia’s top Green Energy players

A list of the 100 Top Green Energy Players in Australia has been released, and among the names are at least two Greek Australians.

You May Also Like

UNHCR calls for action after migrant camp floods

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, has called for “urgent action” after heavy rain flooded tents at a new facility set up to replace the camp.

Professor Anastasios Tamis: We can live with the Turks

In my previous article, we referred to historical moments that showed how Greco-Turkish relations sometimes brought the peoples together.

Tom Koutsantonis MP expects number 8 plates to get ‘significant interest’

A custom set of licence plates depicting the lucky number “8” are set to be auctioned for more than $1 million later this year.