A Russian couple vacationing in Turkey is detained in Istanbul after authorities say they read from a Bible inside Hagia Sophia. According to reports, the couple arrived in Istanbul from Moscow on July 13 and visited the landmark the next day. One source says the husband brought a Bible and read aloud from it inside the building, after which security personnel intervened, escorted the couple out, and brought them to a police station in Istanbul’s Fatih district. Authorities then determine whether they will remain in custody or be transferred to a foreign-national detention center. The couple is described as facing deportation, while Russian diplomatic representatives work to clarify their legal status. Multiple outlets describe Hagia Sophia as a major historic Christian site that is currently operating as a mosque, and note that the detention follows the couple’s Bible reading there. The reports do not provide details on any formal charges or the specific legal basis cited by Turkish authorities.
Russian tourists detained in Istanbul after reading the Bible at Hagia Sophia
A Russian couple vacationing in Turkey is detained in Istanbul after authorities say they read from a Bible inside Hagia Sophia. According to reports, the couple arrived in Istanbul from Moscow on Jul...
- A Russian couple is detained in Istanbul after authorities say they read from a Bible inside Hagia Sophia.
- The couple arrived from Moscow on July 13 and visited Hagia Sophia the following day.
- Reports say security staff escorted the couple out and took them to a police station in Istanbul’s Fatih district.
- Authorities decide whether they remain in custody or are moved to a detention center for foreign nationals.
- The couple faces possible deportation while Russian diplomats seek clarification of their legal status.
The couple were detained after reading from the Bible inside the Istanbul landmark, which remains one of Christianity’s most important historic sites despite its conversion into a mosque.
5 hours agoA Russian couple vacationing in Turkey has been placed in a detention center for foreign nationals after authorities detained them for reading the Bible inside Istanbul's Hagia Sophia. The couple now faces deportation as Russian diplomats work to clarify their legal status. Tourists Detained After Bible Reading Inside Hagia Sophia Victoria F., 35, and her husband, Igor F., 32, arrived in Istanbul from Moscow on July 13. The following day, they visited Hagia Sophia, one of the city's most famous landmarks. According to Ostorozhno, Novosti, Igor took out a Bible he had brought with him and began reading from it inside the building. Igor said security personnel immediately surrounded the couple and escorted them out of the mosque before taking them to a police station in Istanbul's Fatih district. At the time, officers were deciding whether to keep them in custody or transfer them to a deportation center.
11 hours ago
Rumors swirl over whether Taylor Swift invites Blake Lively to Travis Kelce wedding
Reports about Taylor Swift’s wedding to Travis Kelce and the status of her friendship with Blake Lively remain conflicti...
NYT’s ‘Pips’ puzzle walkthroughs provide hints and answers across multiple dates
Several outlets publish daily help for The New York Times game “Pips,” including hints, answers, and walkthroughs tied t...
Vincent D’Onofrio, Kate Mara and others join Netflix’s Las Vegas drama series The Roman
Netflix is expanding the cast of its Las Vegas-set drama series “The Roman.” Variety and Deadline report that Vincent D’...