Turkish authorities arrested two Russian tourists inside Hagia Sofia after security guards caught them reading the Bible...

Turkish authorities arrested two Russian tourists inside Hagia Sofia after security guards caught them reading the Bible aloud. Victoria Sergeyevna Filonova and Igor Andreyevich Filonov were taken to a police station, and Turkish officials are now considering deporting them from the country. The couple entered the historic monument as tourists and began reading from the Bible out loud until security personnel noticed and intervened. The Russian consulate is monitoring the situation and has been in contact with both Turkish authorities and the detainees' lawyers. Turkish prosecutors are reportedly examining the case under Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code, which covers incitement of hatred and hostility or insulting public sentiment. The law carries a prison sentence of six months to one year, and for foreign nationals it can be accompanied by deportation if authorities determine the act poses a risk to public order. Hagia Sofia was originally built as a Christian cathedral in 537 AD, served as a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1453, was converted into a museum in 1934, and was reconverted back into an active mosque by President Erdogan in 2020. The reconversion drew widespread condemnation from Greece, Cyprus, the European Union, and the United States at the time. The Russian consulate has not issued a public statement, but diplomatic channels are reportedly open. No court date has been announced. #HagiaSofia #Turkey #RussiaNews