The minarets were added later, and the building was turned into an imperial mosque following the 1453 Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, which is now the city of Istanbul.Mosaics depicting Jesus, Mary and Christian saints that were plastered over in line with Islamic rules were uncovered through arduous restoration work for the museum.
He said it was Turkey's sovereign right to decide for which purpose Hagia Sofia would be used and rejected the idea that the decision ends Hagia Sophia's status as a structure that brings faiths together. Mr Erdogan, a devout Muslim, has frequently been accused of using the Hagia Sophia issue to drum up support for his Islamic-rooted party.In a major symbolic move, Mr Erdogan recited the opening verse of the Quran there in 2018.The debate between whether the site is considered a mosque or a museum has been quietly brewing for some time.
"This decision clearly affects not only Turkey’s relations with Greece but also its relations with the European Union, UNESCO and the world community as a whole," he said.In Greece's second-largest city, Thessaloniki, protesters gathered outside a church that is modelled on Hagia Sophia and bears the same name. They chanted, "We'll light candles in Hagia Sophia" and held Greek flags and Byzantine banners.
The ever living plague on humanity: organized religion
Religion poisons everything
That’s a message Turkey sending to rest of the world .
The change is symbolic of Turkey’s slide from secularism to Islamic autocracy. That is why it is important.
Turkish economy is faltering - stiring national pride through a provocative move. None of turkeys neighbours trust or like them. They are run by a dictator that persecutes the Kurds in and outside turkey. He tried to flood Europe with migrants last year for more EU money.
read up on history and see how many times in europe mosques built was changed to churches. no one gave a sht. i dont recall an up roar when the mosques in Europe were converted to churches accept they called it a win for Christendom? Use your heads people.
FCk the world community they should do what they like, it's like First Nation Australian's wanting to stop Europeans and ignorant migrants scampering over Uluru, 550 million year old monolith.
More than likely a slide towards Islamic fundamentalism.
All churches etc should be turned into museums and religions banned and consigned to history. Nothing more evil than the ritualistic worship of non existent gods under the control of so called 'priests'.
You spelled Constantinople wrong
It’s been a mosque for nearly 600yrs after the Ottoman’s took over and converted it from a Church. Sooooo.......
Turkey in name. Turkey in nature.
Because Hagia Sophia is a church
Dunno. I couldnt give a shit
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