Turkey slams Rhodes court’s decision to imprison consulate staff

By Dilan Pamuk

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Wednesday condemned a five-year prison sentence given to a contracted secretary at the Turkish Consulate General on the Greek island of Rhodes for alleged espionage.

In Sebahattin Bayram's hearing, which lasted three days, "all the basic principles of law, including international law and private international law, were trampled upon. Even his right to defense has been violated with the violations of procedure, and the prosecutor and the court committee acted with prejudice," said a statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

That the court’s ruling was disclosed by Greek media even before it was announced once again revealed the irregularity of the process, it added.

The ministry assured that it would continue to take all necessary steps under Greek domestic and international laws to protect the rights of the personnel.

The statement further slammed the Greek press for publishing unfounded news and assessments attempting to manipulate the public and justice since the detention of Bayram, a Greek national, on Dec. 18, 2020 over espionage allegations for taking photos of ships.