Erdogan: We don’t need permission from Greece to convert Sophia into mosque
Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Photo: bykvu.com
Turkey does not need to ask permission from Greece to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque. This was announced by Turkish President Reghel Tayyip Erdogan on Monday, June 8, 2020, reports “Romfea”.
“Now they’re talking about Aiye-Sophia,” the agency quotes the Turkish leader’s comment on Greece’s reaction to Ankara’s recent statements. “They say you will not turn it into a mosque. Are you people of the Turkish administration?"
He stressed that in this issue Turkey does not need to ask anyone for permission.
“We will not take permission from you. As a rule of law, we are waiting for the decision of the Council of State. After the decision, we will act accordingly, ”Erdogan said.
The revision of the status of Hagia Sophia is supported by the closest ally of Erdogan – Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli, who said: “Hagia Sophia is a mosque, a symbol of the conquest of the Turkish Muslim people. This is a truth that does not change and everyone must realize it. By the will of Allah, then not the sound of bells but the adhan will be heard from Hagia Sophia.”
As reported earlier, the State Council of Turkey will consider the possibility of changing the status of Hagia Sophia from a museum to an active mosque on July 2.
Read also
Georgian Parliament Speaker: Anti-Church campaign amounts to religious war
Shalva Papuashvili accused Eurobureaucrats of trying to replace the spiritual foundation of the nation with an artificial ideology and impose what he described as the European Union’s “pseudo-religion.”
Authorities in Pakistan order 25,000 Christians to urgently leave their homes
In Islamabad, 25,000 Christians have been ordered to urgently leave their homes without being offered any alternative housing, sparking protests and deepening tensions in society.
Court in U.S. finds Meta and YouTube harm users’ mental health
A U.S. court has ruled that platforms operated by Meta Platforms and YouTube deliberately foster addiction and can be held responsible for harm to users’ mental health.
Patriarch John called on Syrian Christians not to celebrate Easter outside churches
The Patriarch of Antioch and the heads of other churches in Syria made a joint statement amid the escalating situation in the country.
Monastic tonsure performed at St. Elijah's Monastery of Varvarivka
Monastic tonsure was performed by Archbishop Irinarkh of Novopskov.
Dumenko takes control of UOC-KP patriarchate building
Photos of Dumenko inside the UOC-KP patriarchate have appeared on the OCU’s official website.