The Greek government says that Turkey will violate Unesco’s conservation rules if President Recep Tayyip Erdogan moves ahead with plans to turn the historic Hagia Sophia site in Istanbul—currently a museum—into a mosque. — The Art Newspaper
After plans by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to turn Istanbul's most iconic historic site from a museum into a mosque caused international condemnation last year, Unesco has now been invited by the Greek government to weigh in on the proposed conversion, reports The Art Newspaper.
Built in the sixth century as a Christian cathedral, the Hagia Sophia was once converted into a mosque when the Ottomans conquered Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) in the 15th century but declared a museum by the first President of the then new secular Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, in 1935. The site gained Unesco world heritage status in 1985.
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13 Comments
Well Turkey is not a secular republic anymore but an islamofascist dictatorship, so it makes total sense to turn the old church into a mosque (again).
MTGA!
I'm sure that's Erdoğan's campaign slogan right there...
Nevermind, it's just a diversion tactic because of Turkey's proxy-war with Egypt in Libya and their run-in with the French on the Mediterranean...
Extremely sad but true.
randomized, "Turkey is not a secular republic anymore" that's exactly what Orhan Pamuk wrote in Turkish newspaper today sans Islamofascism.
"what about the Kurds?" - says drunk white girl at party you never wanted to start a conversation with (SNL reference)
for randomized: https://www.duvarenglish.com/domestic/2020/07/10/nobel-prize-winning-orhan-pamuk-conversion-of-hagia-sophia-is-a-declaration-that-turkey-is-no-longer-secular/
hahaha, suck it christians
They had to suck it long ago already, it's not called Constantinople for quite a while now.
Pope Francis probably thinks it is a great idea.
Court made its decision. As of today it is open to Muslim prayers and is not a museum. 1934 government decision is nullified. Typical example of Erdogan's government playing to their supporter base.
But,
what did the Christian world do for Turkey or for the Muslims in last 100 years, except colonizing ME oil? What was the kind act or treaty the West offered to the region except supporting a country stealing Palestinian land, supporting puppet regimes, and family owned countries?
To EU, what humiliation and duplicity Turkey wasn't subjected to for wanting to be the part of their Christian club?
Why shouldn't Turkey have certain rights in the Mediterranean for having the longest shore on that sea? Why Greece, France, Israel, Egypt etc. have all the rights and access to parcels with natural gas but not Turkey? Why should Turkey be punished for helping the legitimate government of Libya (for its own benefits of course) when many others are supporting the Haftar and its paid foreign forces such as by Russia, Greece, France, Egypt, Chad, etc.? There is a lot more but read up from different sources if anyone wants to develop informed opinion.
So, it is Erdogan's way of saying F U. That is clear. Turkish people lost their sympathy for EU and it is important for EU to examine or look in the mirror to see their own Christian club and Turkey's continuous rejection of admission. Turkey's EU ambitions were one step forward two step back, because it's a majority Muslim country, that's the biggest reason.
Are you/they going to boycott going to Hagia Sophia because Muslims prayed there for six centuries and want to resume it? They can go right ahead and punish Turks to see if they care. Stop the colonial dreams, they are a sovereign nation regardless of their leader whom you don't like. I don't either but I respect his legitimacy. Turkish people elected him and my hope is he'll lose next elections as every social democrat wishes and will vote for. His party tried to steal mayoral elections in Istanbul and look what happened.
I may sound as a court appointed lawyer of conservative strong man regime above but Turks have every right to do whatever they decide to do with Hagia Sophia they dearly value since 1453.
randomized is absolutely right, "it's not called Constantinople for quite a while now."
On the upside, it will be again open to prayers with Christian icons and Islamic icons present in the same house of God. For a not religious person like me it's a positive thing between the two of most populous Abrahamic religions. It will, perhaps, be free of $40 tickets to visit, open to anyone regardless of their religion or lack of it as all other Mosques in Turkey are, including the Blue Mosque across the street.
I will leave you with this humorous and meaningful music which sums up bigger portion of my point.
More here.
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