Make Hagia Sophia Greek again!
A recent photograph of Steve Bannon, former advisor to Donald Trump, has ignited a media frenzy in Turkey. The image, widely circulated on social media, features Bannon wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the phrase “Free Constantinople,” a message that has been perceived by many in Turkey as provocative.
The Turks provoke & insult us every day. It is high time that someone stands up to them. Good on Bannon!
The controversy began when Rahim Kassam, a British political commentator, shared the photo on X (formerly known as Twitter). Kassam captioned the image, “Steve Bannon opened his favorite Christmas present,” implying the t-shirt was a gift.
Unsurprisingly, the Turkish media reacted strongly, labeling the image a “provocation” and engaging in extensive commentary. Several outlets speculated about external influences, with some hinting at a potential “Greek hand” orchestrating the situation.
The post also garnered significant attention from Turkish users on X, many of whom expressed their outrage. In response, Kassam reacted with sarcasm, posting on December 27th, “All these Turks whining and offended by the post are exactly what Steve Bannon would want for Christmas.”
Turkey is a colonial empire built on the lands of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Yazidis, and Kurds.