Turkey extends arrest of Israeli couple suspected of espionage in snap row
A court in Turkey on Friday, ruled an Israeli couple detained on suspicion of espionage after photographing the palace of the Turkish president, will remain in custody for the next 20 days.
The Israeli Consulate in Istanbul relayed a request to Turkish authorities, to be allowed to meet with the couple immediately.
Natalie and Mordi Vardin were arrested Thursday after they were spotted taking photos of Istanbul residence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
According to the local attorney hired to represent them, the ruling is indication that they will remain in jail until their trial is to begin.
According to Turkish officials, the couple were standing on the Istanbul communication tower's restaurant floor taking picture of the city below. A staff member heard them mention the presidential residence and reported the conversation to the police, prompting their arrest along with a Turkish friend who was accompanying them.
It is against the law to photograph the residence; a fact the couple say they were not aware of.
Earlier Turkish officials indicated to the Israeli Foreign Ministry that the couple would be released and deported back to Israel on Friday.
The Turkish authorities did not notify Israel of the arrest and the news was delivered to the Vardin family in Modi'in by the wife of the Turkish friend.
The arrest of the Israeli couple comes only three weeks after Turkey announced it had uncovered a Mossad spy ring operating in that country. At least 15 people were arrested by local police.