Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Hagia Sophia, is to be used as a mosque for the 30 days of the religious Ramadan feast in Turkey. Reports by Turkish state TV station, TRT Diyanet, based on newspaper articles state that the basilica, currently being used as a museum, will be Islamized with morning sahur prayers read before the beginning of fast each day. The program of events to take place at Hagia Sophia is titled, “Hagia Sophia – Tie for Blessing.”
The program of prayer will begin daily at 2 a.m. and run for 30 days from June 6 through to July 7.
Hagia Sophia had operated as a Christian Cathedral for 916 years until the Fall of Constantinople on May 29, 1453, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire. It was then converted to a mosque and functioned as such for 482 years. Now, it operates as a museum.
Justice and Development Party MP Samil Tayyar said that Turkey should consider using Hagia Sophia as a mosque again as retaliation against the German Bundestag’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Source: mignatiou.com