The espionage case for Turkey in Rhodes

One of the arrested works as a cook on a passenger ship, which operates a ferry route between Rhodes and Megisti (Kastellorizo). The cook comes from Komotini, and was recruited by the Turkish consulate in Rhodes. He took pictures of warships and recorded the movements of soldiers. He then gave his material to an employee at the aforementioned consulate. The other detainee works at this consulate and also has Greek citizenship.

According to the 56-year-old cook, the Turkish consulate staffer recruited him and asked him to provide information on how often the guard changes in Kastelorizo, the numbers on the warships that were in the area in the summer, and because he knew no military details and could not describe much (the cook), the general secretary asked him to photograph what he saw. He also asked him to record conversations of military personnel and government officials, while he was at sea towards Kastellorizo.

According to information, the second man was born in Rodopi and studied at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and has given rise to comments in the past, for pro-Turkish propaganda through social sites in favor of the independence of "western" Thrace. He is 35 years old and has been living in Rhodes for the last 5 years with his wife, who comes from the island. He acted as an interpreter in the meetings of the Turkish consuls, his name is Bayran Sabaidim.

He also wanted to run as a candidate for the Muslims of Rhodes, where he hails from. The employee of the Turkish consulate in Rhodes and the cook are accused of collecting and promoting visual material from military installations not only of the critical complex but also of other islands such as Kos.

The consulate of Rhodes and Ahmed Sadi
The investigation of the case was carried out in close cooperation with EYP with the assistance of the Rhodes Security Sub-Directorate. According to reliable information, the cook has confessed his act to the Greek authorities. Specifically, the cook allegedly sent the consulate employee photos of ships but mainly information about when Greek soldiers take up positions in camps and military zones (and for purely military information but possibly to "document" that there is an army on "demilitarized islands").

He carried out his mission because he was constantly on the ship that was operating the route Rhodes - Kastellorizo. The alleged spy operation may have begun in August. Then, however, Greek agents began to monitor them. The Greek authorities carried out a search of the cook's house, where laptops and mobile phones were found, the examination of which will show the authorities the extent of their espionage activity.

Especially the action of the consulate in Rhodes had become an issue in Parliament with a question from the president of the Christian Democratic Party of Greece N. Nikolopoulos. On January 29 (Okak in Turkish) of 2017, a text was posted on a website in Thrace accompanied by photos showing a Turkish punch in the employee's profile. The alleged spy was born in a mixed (religiously) village of Rhodope and was in favor of "Independent Western Thrace" with the image of Sadiq Ahmet in its "flag".

As a candidate for parliament, Sadiq was convicted of "disturbing the common peace" by a Greek court because during the 1989 election campaign, a publication in his newspaper (Guven) declared that the Muslim minority in Western Thrace was "Turkish". At first instance, the sentence was 18 months in prison without suspension and without the possibility of monetary conversion and for that he was taken to prison. He remained in prison for about two months.

Turkey and Sadiq
In the Court of Appeal the sentence was reduced to 15 months redeemable. Sadiq then appealed to the European Court, which acquitted him in part, but did not convict Greece. In Istanbul, the street of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (at Fanari) has been renamed Ahmet Sadiq Street. The Turks honor him as a national hero and call  him "Denktash of Thrace".

Sadiq was killed in a car accident on July 24, 1995 on the road outside the village of Sostis, a few kilometers outside Komotini. The employee of the Turkish consulate was born in Sostis and he was arrested in Rhodes. He mentions "We do not forget the 29th of January", which for the Turkish propaganda is the "National Day of Resistance of the Turks of Western Thrace".

On January 29, 1988, members of the minority caused incidents, on the occasion of the banning of the term "Turkish" by minority associations and unions. He also writes about the green of Islam, the black oppression in the Balkans and the white of the nostalgia of our starry "Turkism".

Sadik was killed in a car accident on July 24, 1995 on the road outside the village of Sostis, a few kilometers outside Komotini. The employee of the Turkish consulate was born in Sostis and he was arrested in Rhodes. He mentions "We do not forget the 29th of January", which for the Turkish propaganda is the "National Day of Resistance of the Turks of Western Thrace".