Russian couple who read the Bible at Hagia Sophia in Istanbul awaiting deportation
Key Points
- A Russian couple named Victoria and Igor were detained for reading the Bible at Hagia Sophia.
- Turkish police accused the couple of inciting hatred or hostility among the population.
- The Russian consulate in Istanbul contacted the lawyer of the couple, who are awaiting deportation.
- The upper gallery of Hagia Sophia, where the incident occurred, currently still serves as a museum area.
By the Numbers
On Monday, a Russian couple was detained in Istanbul on the grounds that they read the Bible in the historic Hagia Sophia. The couple, known as Victoria and Igor, were removed from the building by Turkish security forces.
The couple is accused of inciting hatred or hostility among the population and is being held in custody pending deportation. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that its consulate in Istanbul has been in contact with the couple's lawyer.
Built as a cathedral during the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque following the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1453. The structure, which was turned into a museum in 1934, was reopened for worship in 2020. The upper gallery, where the incident took place, continues to be used as a museum area today.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Russian couple accused of doing at Hagia Sophia?
- The couple is accused of reading the Bible at Hagia Sophia and inciting hatred or hostility among the population.
- What will happen to the detained couple?
- Turkish authorities are holding the couple in custody and it was reported that they will be deported after the procedures.
- What is the current status of the upper gallery of Hagia Sophia where the incident took place?
- Even though Hagia Sophia was converted back into a mosque in 2020, the upper gallery section continues to be used as a museum area today.
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