Greek Soldiers' Jailing Like 'Midnight Express' Says Minister

Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos has reportedly described the ongoing detention of two Greek soldiers in Turkey as being reminiscent of ‘Midnight Express’.
The controversial 1978 prison drama about a U.S. drug smuggler jailed in Turkey is still notorious for its depictions of sadistic guards and a corrupt judicial system.
Kammenos, whose comments on Tuesday were reported by Greek newspaper Kathimerini, the same day met U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt who said his country was supportive of the approach taken by the Greek government on the issue of the two Greek soldiers.
“I’ll simply say that the United States is fully engaged on the question of the two soldiers; we’re very supportive of the approach that the [PM Alexis] Tsipras government has taken to maintaining communications with Turkey and we hope that this issue will be resolved expeditiously,” Pyatt said during a visit with Kammenos to Andravida air base, western Greece.
Greece is on heightened alert amid a string of incidents along the Turkish border. On March 1, two Greek soldiers mistakenly crossed into Turkey and have since been held in Edirne.
Their prolonged detention has prompted some — including Kammenos — to describe them as “hostages”.