Greece’s Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis says he is hopeful the case involving two Greek citizens detained in Turkey after being photographed with Greek symbols inside Hagia Sophia will soon be resolved favourably.
“We hope that the matter will be definitively resolved in the very near future and will have a favourable outcome,” Gerapetritis told Parliament on Friday.
The two Greek nationals, including Melbourne man Michael Mazis, were arrested on Holy Thursday in Istanbul after being photographed holding a Greek flag and a Byzantine-era banner bearing the phrase “Orthodoxy or Death” inside Hagia Sophia.
Independent MP Giorgos Manousos said the pair remain in custody awaiting trial on charges including “incitement to hatred” and “insult”, raising concerns about the proportionality of the case and the protection of their rights.
Gerapetritis said the detainees are being held in separate correctional facilities in Istanbul and confirmed Greece’s Consulate General has maintained ongoing contact with both individuals and their defence lawyers.
“They are in good health. We remain in continuous communication,” he said.
The foreign minister noted the charges relate not only to the display of the Greek flag, but also to the written message carried by the pair, which Turkish authorities considered could fall within the legal definition of incitement to hatred and hostility.
According to Michael’s father, Anastasios Mazis, the slogan had been misunderstood.
“Something has been lost in the translation,” he told The Greek Herald previously.
“Reports say the flag said, ‘Be Orthodox or die,’ but that is not the case at all and the words had nothing to do with inciting violence.”
The family has maintained there was no intent to offend, describing the incident as a misunderstanding during Michael’s first visit to Turkey for Orthodox Easter.
Gerapetritis said Greek authorities have been working from the outset to coordinate with defence counsel in an effort to secure either a prompt trial or alternative measures such as conditional release instead of continued pre-trial detention.
“Our Consulate General remains constantly on alert regarding this issue and in regular communication. It is also coordinating with the Turkish authorities,” he said, adding that the matter now rests with the competent judicial authorities.
