Erdogan entrusts to change Hagia Sophia status in Istanbul
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey. Photo:trtrussian.com
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan instructed his assistants to handle the preparation of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul with a view to converting it into a mosque. This was reported by the Turkish online publication Hürriyet.
“Hagia Sophia can be further visited by tourists as a mosque. Like in Sultanahmet (the historical center of Istanbul – Ed.). Our nation must resolve this issue,” Erdogan said.
The President of Turkey announced his assignment at a meeting of the main council of the Justice and Development Party. Erdogan is the chairman of this party, which is the ruling party in the country.
He recalled that in 1934, the Council of Ministers converted Hagia Sophia, a symbol of the conquest of Istanbul, into a museum.
“Do the research for Hagia Sophia, let's evaluate the situation and discuss it,” the Turkish President urged his staff.
He asked them to take their time and to deal with this issue properly.
“Be very careful about it,” Erdogan said.
Earlier, the Turkish authorities held an event near the walls of Hagia Sophia called "Conquest Festival" on the occasion of the 567th anniversary of the fall of Constantinople. After this event, the Turkish President declared that Turkish authorities have the right to return the status of a mosque to the cathedral.
Read also
Sand for construction of Yermak’s residence brought from cemetery, MP says
MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that sand illegally removed from a cemetery in Ukrainka was used in the construction of the elite Dynasty cooperative in Kozyn.
Italian court recognizes family with three parents as legal
In Bari, the appellate court ordered authorities to register an adoption according to which a child is listed as having two "fathers" and one mother.
Archaeologists discover biblical Bethsaida on shore of Sea of Galilee
Researchers have discovered a first-century residential house beneath the apse of a Byzantine church and a mosaic inscription mentioning the Apostle Peter.
Israeli soldiers receive jail terms for mocking statue of the Virgin Mary
Those involved in the act of sacrilege in the village of Debel will spend several weeks behind bars for desecrating a statue of the Mother of God.
Serbian Church officially receives back land of 15th-century monastery
An agreement was signed in Belgrade transferring the territory of the ancient Vojlovica Monastery to the Banat Eparchy.
Pat Daniel comments on conflict between Phanar bishop and community in Turkey
The Bulgarian Primate believes that the hierarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate should not have forced the Bulgarian community in Edirne to serve in Greek.