Turkey recently converted Istanbul’s sixth-century Hagia Sophia back into a mosque and declared it open for Muslim worship, but why is the decision causing so much controversy among international leaders?
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.
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