07/10/2020 - 12:54
- Clarín.com
- World
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Friday the opening of the former Hagia Sophia basilica in Istanbul to Muslim worship after a court struck down its museum status, thus opening the way for its transformation into a mosque.
The decision lit red lights. The old Basilica of Saint Sophia belongs to the World Heritage Site for the fact that it is a museum. The Organization for Education, Science and Culture (of Unesco), responsible for the declarations of "World Heritage", indicated that any modification should be submitted to the scrutiny of its experts and not contravene the exceptional universal value of everything well inscribed.
Hagia Sophia is part of the "Historic Areas of Istanbul" and as such was declared a World Heritage Site in 1985, fifty years after the Turkish state recognized the temple as a museum.
AFP
However, Erdogan signed this Friday the decree that turns it into a mosque.
"It has been decided that Hagia Sophia will be placed under the 'Diyanet administration' (Religious Affairs Authority) and will be reopened for prayers, " Erdogan announced in a statement on Twitter.
The Turkish Council of State had decided, at the request of various associations, to annul a 1934 government provision granting Hagia Sophia, in Istanbul, that museum status.
History
Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th century by the Byzantines who crowned their emperors there, is one of the main tourist attractions in Istanbul.
Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque in the 15th century./ dpa
Both Greece and the Russian Orthodox Church regretted the decision on Friday.
Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque in the 15th century after the Ottoman invasion and a museum in 1935 by the leader of the young Turkish republic, Mustafá Kemal Atatürk.
Greece considered this decision to be "an open provocation to the civilized world".
Hagia Sophia was built in the 6th century by the Byzantines who crowned their emperors there./ dpa
"The nationalism demonstrated by Erdogan takes the country back six centuries ago, " said Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendone in a statement.
For its part, the Russian Orthodox Church regretted that the "concern" of "millions of Christians" has not been heard by Turkish justice.
Unesco recalled that any inscription on the World Heritage list carries "legal commitments and obligations" , which happen because the State prevents "any modification that threatens the exceptional universal value of the inscribed property".
Hagia Sophia was declared a World Heritage Site in 1985. / dpa
In the event of a change, it must be communicated to Unesco and, if necessary, examined by the corresponding Committee.
The organization recalls that Istanbul was included in that list, especially for being an example of "unique integration of architectural masterpieces that reflect the encounter of Europe and Asia for several centuries."
In addition, the registration act states that "Hagia Sophia has become a model for a whole family of churches and, later, of mosques."
10 July 2020, Turkey, Istanbul: An exterior view of the Unesco World Heritage Site Hagia Sophia museum. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signed a decree ordering Istanbul's landmark Hagia Sophia be handed over to the country religious authority and reopened for Islamic prayers, just over an hour after Turkey's top administrative court overturned a 1934 decree that made the Hagia Sophia a museum and symbol of secularism. Photo: Yasin Akgul / dpa
For this reason, adds Unesco, "Saint Sophia has an important symbolic, historical and universal value".
For the organization it is essential that the different communities can have an "effective, inclusive and equitable" participation so that the heritage is guaranteed and its unique character is preserved.
"This requirement serves the protection and transmission of the exceptional universal value of heritage and is inherent in the spirit of the World Heritage Convention," he said.
AFP and EFE
