Hagia Sophia closed for conversion to mosque

TURKISH authorities started inspecting Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia yesterday for logistical preparations to make the former museum compatible with Islamic prayers, a day after the country announced its reconversion.

President Tayyip Erdogan said the site would be opened to Muslim worshippers on July 24 for the first time since 1934, when the founders of the secular republic made it a museum. This followed a court ruling on Friday revoking its status as a museum.

The building was closed to visitors yesterday, state news agency Anadolu said, adding that teams from the Tourism Ministry were inspecting the dome and four minarets for preparations.

Erdogan said on Friday that preparations at the building, home to Christian symbols and mosaics, would continue after the designated opening.

He had said earlier the 1500-year-old monument would remain open to Muslims, Christians and foreigners.

The US, EU, Russia and Greece, along with Unesco, expressed dismay with the conversion of the site.

Unesco said its world heritage committee would review Hagia Sophia’s status and that Turkey’s decision raised questions about the impact on its universal value as a site of importance transcending borders and generations.

Metropolit Ilarion of the Moscow’s Patriarchate said the move would damage Turkey’s relationship with the Christian world.

Greece condemned the decision. Former Greek foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis tweeted that Turkey had “crossed the Rubicon” with the decision, moving itself way from the Western world.