Dimitris Georgopoulos | Nov 3, 2026
An incident involving some of the Israeli passengers aboard the cruise ship Crown Iris has sparked strong reactions on the Greek island of Syros.
The alleged incident took place during an organised visit by a group of Crown Iris passengers to the Holy Monastery of Saint Barbara in Syros.
Some members of the group entered the monastery’s courtyard, which it shares with the nursery school “In the Palm of God”. Exposing their genitals, they urinated in the shared car park, in full view of astonished teachers and children.
The incident sparked an outpouring of anger. The Episcopal Vicar of Syros, who is also Director of the nursery school, submitted an official report and protest, pointing out that this was not merely a case of visitors behaving inappropriately, but an “act that simultaneously insulted a place of worship, an educational and childcare facility for young children, and the people who were present there”.
“There are limits imposed by human dignity, public decency, the protection of children and the most basic respect for a place of worship. In this particular incident, those limits were violated in an unacceptable manner.
“For this reason, we call upon you to take immediate and specific measures and to ensure that passengers and accompanying staff participating in organised visits are informed in advance that they are visiting places of worship and educational facilities, where respect for the sacred character of the premises, public decency and the presence of underage children is not optional, but an obvious obligation incumbent upon every visitor,” he stated.
Also, the Mayor of Syros, the capital of Cyclades issued a strong declaration condemning the incident.
The Greek state authorities, acting as a “prolongation” of the Israeli state, forbid all demonstrations against the visit by the Israeli “tourists” except in a central place of the city of Syros, in order for the demonstrators not to be visible by the tourists, who are not annoyed by committing a genocide, but they are disturbed deeply when they see people protesting it. Quite often during the last year Israelis have a very agressive behavior towards “native” Greeks.
Last year the judicial authoritities have investigated 14 persons, including one journalist for violating the law against racism, implying that if Israelis or Jews are commiting a genocide you cannot protest against them, otherwise you are a racist. This action by the judicial authorities has provoked great protests in Greece Σύρος: Πρωτοφανής απόπειρα δίωξης δημοσιογράφου – Για την περσινή διαδήλωση κατά της άφιξης του Crown Iris.
In a recent appeal 130 Greek personalities protested the atmosphere of Neomarthyism against anybody who doubts the western and Israeli narrative on Palestine, Iran and many other places No to the contemporary McCarthyism | Defend Democracy Press
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