Turkish Parliament debates disappearance of Greek monk

The disappearance of Greek Orthodox monk Joseph, born Nikolaos Tsigozis, has reached the Turkish Parliament. Serhat Eren, a lawmaker from the DEM Party, submitted a parliamentary inquiry to Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi seeking clarification on search efforts.

The 58-year-old monk entered Turkey on July 23. He was reportedly last seen on the afternoon of July 25 at the Greek Consulate General in Istanbul, where he inquired about visiting Trabzon, Sumela Monastery, and Cappadocia. Following this, he was believed to have headed toward a bus station.

The parliamentary inquiry asks whether Turkish authorities have identified physical or digital traces of the monk, such as travel records or tickets, and if a search and rescue operation is underway. Additionally, the inquiry seeks to confirm if authorities in Trabzon and Cappadocia have been notified to inspect historical churches and monasteries, and whether there is coordination with the Greek consulate and the monk's family.