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Turkey: Erdogan's symbolic visit to Hagia Sophia

2020-07-19T22:19:18.853Z


The surprise visit of the Turkish head of state comes a few days before the first Muslim prayer in Hagia Sophia since his retraining, scheduled for Friday.


Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a symbolic visit to the former Hagia Sophia in Istanbul on Sunday, the first since the controversial conversion of the building to a mosque last week.

Read also: Erdogan re-Islamizes Hagia Sophia and challenges Europe again

During this brief inspection, Erdogan observed the conversion work inside the building, said the presidency, which has published photos on which we can see scaffolding.

Last week, the highest administrative court in Turkey revoked a 1934 government decision granting Hagia Sophia museum status. As soon as this decision was made public, President Erdogan announced the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

Read also: Jean-François Colosimo: "Let Erdogan not transform the Hagia Sophia into a mosque!"

The surprise visit of the Turkish head of state comes a few days before the first Muslim prayer in Hagia Sophia since his retraining, scheduled for Friday. It is not yet clear whether Erdogan will take part in it. According to the Religious Affairs Authority (Diyanet), 500 people will participate in the first collective prayer on Friday inside Hagia Sophia. The Christian icons that decorate the interior of the ancient Byzantine basilica will be hidden during prayer time, according to the Diyanet.

A major architectural work built in the 6th century, Hagia Sophia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the main tourist attractions in Istanbul. Converted into a mosque after the capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453, it was transformed into a museum in 1934 by the leader of the young Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal, who wanted to " give it to humanity ".

Read also: "The re-Islamization of the Hagia Sophia will require covering the frescoes and mosaics"

The decision to restore it to Muslim worship has drawn criticism abroad, notably in Greece, a country which closely follows the fate of the Byzantine heritage in Turkey. Pope Francis said he was “ very distressed ” by this reconversion.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2020-07-19

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