The controversy surrounding Turkish President Erdogan's reconversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020 is a complex issue that has sparked intense debate and criticism from various quarters.

The Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a rich history as both a Byzantine cathedral and an Ottoman mosque, and its reconversion has been seen as a highly politicized move by Erdogan.

The decision to convert the Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been criticized by many, including the Greek Orthodox Church, which has decried it as an "ill-advised decision" that "makes a mockery of the Turkish government's commitment to religious tolerance and religious freedom".

The Turkish government's move has also been seen as an attempt to erase the country's multicultural heritage and to shore up Erdogan's Islamo-nationalist base, which has been weakened by a bad economy and a lack of political perspective.

The reconversion of the Hagia Sophia has also been criticized by the US State Department, which has urged the Turkish government to preserve and ensure access to sites and buildings that have hosted different religious communities in a way that respects their diverse histories.

The UNESCO has also expressed concern over the conversion, stating that it could damage the cultural and historical significance of the site.

In addition to the criticism from international organizations and governments, the reconversion of the Hagia Sophia has also been opposed by many Turks, who see it as a move to undermine the country's secular heritage.

The Turkish government has defended its decision, stating that the Hagia Sophia is a mosque and that it will be open to all Muslims for prayer.

However, the government's decision to charge tourists an entrance fee of nearly $28 to visit the Hagia Sophia has been seen as a move to restrict access to the site and to prioritize Muslim worshippers over tourists.

The controversy surrounding the Hagia Sophia is not an isolated incident, as Erdogan's government has also converted other historic churches into mosques, including the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora.

The Chora Church, which was built in the 5th century, was converted into a mosque in the 16th century and was later converted into a museum in 1945.

The reconversion of the Chora Church into a mosque has been seen as a highly symbolic move, as it is one of the most important Byzantine monuments in Istanbul.

The Turkish government's decision to convert the Chora Church into a mosque has been criticized by the Greek Prime Minister, who stated that it is an "action that offends the rich history of Istanbul itself as a crossroads of cultures".

The controversy surrounding the Hagia Sophia and the Chora Church is a complex issue that involves not only religious and cultural considerations but also political and economic factors.

The Turkish government's move to convert these historic churches into mosques has been seen as a highly politicized move that is aimed at shoring up Erdogan's Islamo-nationalist base.

The decision has also been criticized for its potential to damage the cultural and historical significance of the sites, as well as its potential to restrict access to the sites and to prioritize Muslim worshippers over tourists.

In conclusion, the controversy surrounding the Hagia Sophia and the Chora Church is a complex issue that involves a range of factors, including religious, cultural, political, and economic considerations.

The Turkish government's decision to convert these historic churches into mosques has been widely criticized, and it remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the future.

The Turkish government has announced plans to implement a visitor management policy at the Hagia Sophia, which will include charging foreign tourists an entrance fee and restricting access to the site.

The policy has been criticized for its potential to restrict access to the site and to prioritize Muslim worshippers over tourists.

The Turkish government has also announced plans to restore the Hagia Sophia, which has been damaged by years of neglect and poor maintenance.

The restoration plans have been welcomed by many, who see it as a necessary step to preserve the cultural and historical significance of the site.

However, the plans have also been criticized for their potential to damage the site's cultural and historical significance, as well as their potential to restrict access to the site.

In 2022, a video showed fragments falling from the dome of the Hagia Sophia, which raised serious questions over the safety of the former Orthodox Christian cathedral.

The footage released by the Turkish newspaper BirGün showed visitors rushing to take cover as fragments fell from the dome.

The Turkish Art History Association has argued that the monument needs to be restored as soon as possible, suggesting that "If Hagia Sophia is not restored, it will collapse with the first earthquake".

The association has also criticized the Turkish government's decision to convert the Hagia Sophia into a mosque, stating that it has led to a significant increase in visitors, which has put a strain on the site's infrastructure.

The Turkish government has announced plans to implement a visitor management policy at the Hagia Sophia, which will include charging foreign tourists an entrance fee and restricting access to the site.

The policy has been criticized for its potential to restrict access to the site and to prioritize Muslim worshippers over tourists.

The Hagia Sophia has received 21 million visitors since it was converted into a mosque in 2020, according to Turkey's tourism and culture minister.

The site has undergone significant damage since its conversion, including the damage to the ancient marble floors and the historic Imperial Gate.

The Turkish government has announced plans to restore the Hagia Sophia, which has been damaged by years of neglect and poor maintenance.

The restoration plans have been welcomed by many, who see it as a necessary step to preserve the cultural and historical significance of the site.

However, the plans have also been criticized for their potential to damage the site's cultural and historical significance, as well as their potential to restrict access to the site.

The controversy surrounding the Hagia Sophia is a complex issue that involves a range of factors, including religious, cultural, political, and economic considerations.

The Turkish government's decision to convert the Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been widely criticized, and it remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the future.

The Turkish government has also converted other historic churches into mosques, including the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora.

The Chora Church, which was built in the 5th century, was converted into a mosque in the 16th century and was later converted into a museum in 1945.

The reconversion of the Chora Church into a mosque has been seen as a highly symbolic move, as it is one of the most important Byzantine monuments in Istanbul.

The Turkish government's decision to convert the Chora Church into a mosque has been criticized by the Greek Prime Minister, who stated that it is an "action that offends the rich history of Istanbul itself as a crossroads of cultures".

The controversy surrounding the Hagia Sophia and the Chora Church is a complex issue that involves not only religious and cultural considerations but also political and economic factors.

The Turkish government's move to convert these historic churches into mosques has been seen as a highly politicized move that is aimed at shoring up Erdogan's Islamo-nationalist base.

The decision has also been criticized for its potential to damage the cultural and historical significance of the sites, as well as its potential to restrict access to the sites and to prioritize Muslim worshippers over tourists.

The controversy surrounding Turkish President Erdogan's reconversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020 is a complex issue that has sparked intense debate and criticism from various quarters.

The Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a rich history as both a Byzantine cathedral and an Ottoman mosque, and its reconversion has been seen as a highly politicized move by Erdogan.

Title:

Content: [ditty_news_ticker id="27897"] Video Shows Fragments Falling from the Dome of Hagia Sophia - Orthodox Christian Laity

Video Shows Fragments Falling from the Dome of Hagia Sophia

0

Source: Greek Reporter

A still from a recently released video shows visitors rushing to take cover as fragments fall from the dome of Hagia Sophia. Credit: Daily Motion/BirGün

A video from 2022 that came to light recently shows fragments falling on visitors from the dome of Hagia Sophia, the former epicenter of Christian worship at Constantinople, today’s Istanbul.

The footage released by the Turkish newspaper, BirGün, raises serious questions over the safety of the former Orthodox Christian cathedral, now a mosque.

BirGün notably quoted officials as saying that “pieces are falling from the roof, due to the humidity created by the crowd, but no precautions are being taken”.

The president of the Turkish Art History Association, Serif Yasar, argued for restoration of the monument as soon as possible, suggesting that “If Hagia Sophia is not restored, it will collapse with the first earthquake.”

The monument was restored as a mosque three years ago after serving as a museum from 1935-2020 and has since received 21 million visitors, according to Turkey’s tourism and culture minister.

Yasar added that when the church was a museum, the scientific council overseeing it urged that groups of no more than 25 people should be allowed to enter the building at any one time.

This enormous lift in visitation has likely brought to the forefront the need for repairs and it was indeed reported in September that the Turkish government had decided to start long-term maintenance of Hagia Sophia.

Turkey to implement visitor management policy at Hagia Sophia

In early October Turkish historian Ilber Ortayli expressed fears that the large number of visitors to Hagia Sophia could lead to a catastrophic structural failure if not addressed immediately.

Writing in the Hürriyet daily, Ortayli said that the monument, which attracts three million pilgrims annually apart from tourists, has undergone significant damage since its conversion into a mosque.

He asserted that even a modest number of 20-30 thousand people annually, including scientists, historians, archaeologists, representatives of the Muslim religion, politicians, and public officials, could be considered excessive for the endurance of the monument.

In June 2022 a number of tiles of the ancient marble floors in Hagia Sophia were damaged by heavy machines used to clean the site.

In April 2022, The Turkish Association of Art Historians stated that the historic Imperial Gate in Hagia Sophia had been badly damaged.

The group posted a picture clearly depicting the damage to the oak wood of the 15-century-old gate.

Turkey unveiled plans in late October for a visitor management policy at Hagia Sophia, including charging foreign tourists with an entrance fee to be implemented starting Jan. 15.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that extensive restoration work is underway in various sections of Hagia Sophia, now a mosque, with plans to progress to other parts upon their completion.

He emphasized that, based on UNESCO’s recommendations, a visitor management plan would be enforced to enhance the quality and safety of visits while preserving the historical significance of the site.

Related Articles
Officials argue for repairs to Hagia Sophia after footage shows fragments falling from the dome – Neos Kosmos

Share.

No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The decision to convert the Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been criticized by many, including the Greek Orthodox Church, which has decried it as an "ill-advised decision" that "makes a mockery of the Turkish government's commitment to religious tolerance and religious freedom".

Title:

Content: After Hagia Sophia, Turkey converts a second ancient Byzantine church into a mosque

Hundreds of worshippers filled the narrow streets of Istanbul's Fatih district on Friday to hear the sounds of Friday prayers ringing out from the newly inaugurated Kariye Mosque.

Once known as the Chora Church, the site spent the last 79 years as a museum. But it is now the latest structure to be converted back into a mosque by the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, following the conversion of Hagia Sophia in 2020. While viewed as a triumph by many Turkish Muslims, the Greek Orthodox Church has decried it as an "ill-advised decision" that "makes a mockery of the Turkish government's commitment to religious tolerance and religious freedom."

Chora's conversion was announced shortly after Hagia Sophia's, but its opening for prayer was delayed by years of restoration work.

The showing for the first Friday prayers at Kariye was relatively quiet compared to Hagia Sophia, which drew hundreds of thousands who filled the streets with prayer rugs for blocks and blocks away from the building. By contrast, the crowd on Friday was relatively average for a mosque in one of Istanbul's more religiously conservative neighborhoods, where Friday worshippers frequently spill out onto the streets.

Both the Chora Church and Hagia Sophia are 4th-century Byzantine constructions. They spent nearly a millennium as Christian holy sites before being converted to mosques by the Ottomans after their conquest of Constantinople in the 15th century. Despite their conversions, they remained revered by Orthodox Christians. After the founding of a secular Turkish Republic in the early 20th century, the decision was made for both to be neither mosque nor church but simply museums.

"Both Hagia Sophia and Chora embodied Byzantine and Ottoman pasts, and they became symbols of co-existence and multi-faith living practices. Their conversion fundamentally implies a hierarchy, prioritizing the Islamic past over all other layers, Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Jewish, Syriac, et al," Dr. Özgür Kaymak, a lecturer and researcher on minority rights at Istanbul's MEF University, told Religion News Service in an email.

Rededicating the sites as mosques is more than just a status change. According to Islamic tradition, artwork of human figures are forbidden in places of prayer, while in Orthodox Churches, icons of Christ, saints and other biblical figures are a defining feature.

In Hagia Sophia, the mosaics of Jesus and Mary have been covered with curtains since the conversion. While Erdoğan promised Hagia Sophia would remain fully accessible and free to all visitors, Turkey reneged on that earlier this year, reimposing an entrance fee on tourists and relegating them to the upper level, while the main floor is exclusive to Muslim worshippers.

Observers have also criticized the Turkish Directorate of Religion's caretaking of the site, noting damage that did not exist when it was under the purview of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Though Chora is significantly smaller than Hagia Sophia, it is home to some of the best-preserved examples of late-Byzantine art, including mosaics, icons and frescoes, and is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site.

"For us it's a very important place because it remembers our culture and our traditions here," Father Evangelos Markantonis, an Orthodox priest who was leading a group of theology students to Chora on Friday, told Religion News Service.

"Though we cannot venerate as Orthodox Christians, we have to try to find things we can be united on. Only with dialogue and good deeds can we continue our lives," Markantonis, who is also a professor at the University of Athens, said when asked about the controversy.

Erdoğan had long refused calls from his right to convert churches like Hagia Sophia and Chora, telling supporters in 2018 to fill the nearby Sultan Ahmet Mosque (also known in English as the Blue Mosque) before they talked about needing to pray in Hagia Sophia.

Nonetheless, he made an about-turn in 2020.

"My dear nation, the conquest of Istanbul and the conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a Mosque are among the most glorious chapters in Turkish history," Erdoğan said at the time in a speech inaugurating the Hagia Sophia as a mosque.

"This is the most honorable day that Islam has been looking forward to, Greek Constantinople has become Turkish Istanbul," he added, quoting the Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet.

"The resurrection of Hagia Sophia heralds the liberation of the al-Aqsa Mosque. The resurrection of Hagia Sophia is the footsteps of the will of Muslims across the world to come out of the interregnum," Erdoğan said in his concluding remarks.

Chora's opening as the Kariye Mosque comes just weeks after Erdoğan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) suffered its largest electoral defeat in two decades during Turkey's nationwide municipal elections.

"The recent conversion of Chora into a mosque may be due to Erdoğan's many problems, including his geopolitical power politics, his appeal to religio-nationalism to revive his electoral popularity after the March elections or his tactic to divert attention from Turkey's economic downturn," Kaymak said.

Many analysts have attributed the loss to AKP bleeding votes to the more Islamist-leaning New Welfare Party, which has pressured Erdogan over his response to the Israel-Hamas war and humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

Muslim worshippers at the mosque on Friday said they viewed its rededication as an Islamic site to be a national win for Turkey.

"This mosque is one of the symbols of the Conquest. We are proud and happy. There are very beautiful frescoes inside. They were also nicely renovated before they were closed. May it be good for our country and our nation," a bystander, Ahmet Öteyüzoğlu, told Turkish media.

"Thank God for these days. Not everyone has the opportunity in their lifetime," another bystander named Mehmet Çelik told the Turkish news service Anadolu Agency, in reference to having been able to pray at both the rededicated Hagia Sophia and Kariye Mosques.

However, Greece, the U.S. State Department and Orthodox Christian institutions worldwide have all criticized the decision to revert the structure into a mosque.

"I want to publicly express my intense dissatisfaction, interpreting the feelings of all Greek women and men, for the completely unnecessary conversion of a historic Byzantine temple, the Monastery of Chora, into a mosque. It is, I believe, an action that offends the rich history of Istanbul itself as a crossroads of cultures," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said shortly before leaving for Turkey for a planned meeting with Erdogan.

"We encourage the Turkish government to preserve and ensure access to sites and buildings that have hosted different religious communities in a way that respects their diverse histories," a State Department spokesperson said in response to questions from Greek media.

"The Turkish government's appropriation of both as the property of one faith group not only constitutes yet another sign of that government's contempt for Turkey's rich Orthodox Christian heritage but further imperils the religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the remaining Christians of that land," the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate said in a statement.

© Religion News Service

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

The Turkish government's move has also been seen as an attempt to erase the country's multicultural heritage and to shore up Erdogan's Islamo-nationalist base, which has been weakened by a bad economy and a lack of political perspective.

Title:

Content: >
December 9, 2021

Christian leaders look forward to Turkey's new law on religious foundations

This is an issue of vital importance for local Christian communities whose places of worship are entrusted to and managed by their governing bodies

Religious minorities in Turkey are looking forward to the increasingly Islamo-nationalist government making good its promise of outreach to non-Muslims by giving them freedom to establish and run their religious and social institutions.

The Turkish government is preparing to issue a new regulation on the administrative management of foundations linked to non-Muslim faith communities, which have been paralyzed for years by a legislative impasse that blocks the renewal of their governing bodies.

This is an issue of vital importance for local Christian communities such as Armenians and Assyrians, whose places of worship – many of them historic --, other real estate and public institutions are entrusted to and managed by foundations.

Burhan Ersoy, head of the state-run Directorate of the Foundations, has confirmed that the plan for the drafting of a new regulation concerning the elections for the assignment of offices within the foundations has come into being, Fides reported.

The draft of the text has been drawn up, taking into account requests and proposals from the various minority communities, and it is expected that the new rules, after obtaining government approval, would be implemented by April 2022.

The previous electoral regulation for the top management of foundations had been suspended in 2013, after the government chose to establish new procedures to make the management of real estate more functional and transparent.

This led to some confusion with representatives of the various minority communities unable to come to a consensus to either accept or reject the new electoral rules, Ersoy said.

The Syrian Orthodox Christian Süleyman Can Ustabaşı, current representative of the non-Muslim Foundations within the Assembly of Foundations, has said that the structure of foundations and their membership profiles had changed over time.

The Turkish government already had consultations with the representatives of religious minorities to resolve the dispute over board elections for their foundations.

But Ustabaşı now urges Turkish authorities to carry out another consultation with representatives of minority communities before the new text is to be implemented in 2022.

The legal status of the Foundations is still based on the Peace Treaty of Lausanne, signed in 1923 by Turkey and the Entente powers (British Empire, France and Russian Empire) victorious from the First World War.

The treaty guaranteed equality before the laws and the freedom to promote and manage "religious and social institutions" for non-Muslim communities in Turkey.

However, the state had seized properties run by these foundations and had to contend with litigation as these foundations claimed the rights guaranteed by the Treaty of Lausanne.

Also, starting from 1936, legislative provisions had allowed foundations of non-Muslim communities to acquire new properties. But in 1974, this guarantee was canceled and the state begun seizing assets acquired by these foundations.

Between 2013 and 2018 about 1,084 properties were returned to the foundations linked to non-Muslim communities, and 20 places of worship restored and given back to the foundations, according to official data.

Greek Orthodox Laki Vingas, in a speech published by the Armenian-Turkish newspaper Agos, said that the legislative deadlock on the question of the regulation of the foundations has had a negative effect on the life of the different ecclesial communities.

The block in the processes of renewal of the governing bodies of foundations had led to the expulsion of young people from the institutions linked to their communities, and also that many voluntary activities were "unfortunately interrupted".

Non-Muslim places of worship

Within the general Assembly of the Turkish Foundations are some 167 minority foundations. The Turkish Greek community has 77, the highest number of foundations. The Armenian community has 54 and the Jewish community has 19 foundations.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after a cabinet meeting held on October 25 announced that authorities had put on the agenda the question of the elections of the directorates of the foundations linked to religious minorities.

He also spoke of fundamental tools for the management of assets and resources destined for non-Muslim places of worship.

The issue of the foundations come at a time when Turkish authorities have expelled more and more Protestant Christians -- foreigners and Turkish converts-- on grounds they constitute a "threat to national security".

Turkey had also recently transformed museums into mosques, such as the Hagia Sophia and the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora.

Both churches had been turned into museums after the end of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of modern Turkey.

The Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora was built by the Byzantines in the 5th century. The Ottomans then turned it into a mosque after they captured Constantinople in 1453. And it remained a Muslim worship space until the end of the Second World War when it was transformed into a museum.

The same happened to the Hagia Sophia Museum in Iznik, and the high-profile reconversion of the Hagia Sophia Museum, Istanbul's most identifiable monument.

Many observers believe that President Erdogan, weakened internally by a bad economy and a lack of political perspective, is compensating with erasing part of the country's multiculturalism, aimed at shoring up the ranks of his Islamo-nationalist base.

Newsletter
Get the latest from La Croix International. Sign up to receive our daily newsletter.
SUPPORT LA CROIX INTERNATIONAL’S COMMUNITY OF READERS
Support La Croix International's unique blend of international Catholic journalism by making it available to people in Asia and Africa who can't afford a subscription and often don't have credit cards to pay for it either.

DONATE NOW
| Catholic Digest | UCAN | Living in faith | La Croix Africa | La Croix español

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The reconversion of the Hagia Sophia has also been criticized by the US State Department, which has urged the Turkish government to preserve and ensure access to sites and buildings that have hosted different religious communities in a way that respects their diverse histories.

The UNESCO has also expressed concern over the conversion, stating that it could damage the cultural and historical significance of the site.

Title:

Content: Erdogan invited the leaders of Muslim states to the first prayer in Hagia Sophia
13: 26 22 July Kiev, Ukraine
According to the plan, on July 24, the first prayer will be held in Hagia Sophia in Turkey, after it was decided to convert the building of the Orthodox church into a mosque.
The leaders of many Muslim countries are invited to take part in it.
Erdogan ’ s invitation came from Qatar and Azerbaijan.
The remaining heads of state have not yet responded to the Turkish president.
Remind me!
The Turkish government decided to change the status of the architectural monument and the Orthodox Church of St. Sophia and convert the room into a mosque.
The Pope said that this situation causes him grief.
The Patriarch of Ecumenical and Constantinople, who recently received a great number of churches on the territory of Ukraine, and did not demand the transfer of the museum to the Diocese of Constantinople in a timely manner, said that the creation of a mosque in the museum building can be negatively met in the Orthodox world.
It is expected that the first prayer in the new mosque will be attended by about 1000-1500 people.
All quarantine conditions will be met, participants in prayer will be given masks, and disinfectants will be placed everywhere in the cathedral so that people can treat their hands and their prayer mats.
During the prayer, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will also be present in the cathedral, along with Turkish ministers, leaders of the ruling Justice and Development Party.
As previously reported, all the frescoes and mosaics at the time of prayer will be covered with curtains.
On July 10, a Turkish court ruled that the decision to convert the mosque into a museum in 1934 was illegal.
Erdogan immediately signed a decree on assigning Hagia Sophia the status of a mosque.
The move has sparked international criticism and concern, including from Greece, the United States and Russia, as well as UNESCO and Pope Francis.
Turkey insists that the status of the architectural monument is its internal affair.

In addition to the criticism from international organizations and governments, the reconversion of the Hagia Sophia has also been opposed by many Turks, who see it as a move to undermine the country's secular heritage.

No--In 1934, Ataturk turned it into a museum, making it a major tourist attraction and secular symbol in Turkey.

The Turkish government has defended its decision, stating that the Hagia Sophia is a mosque and that it will be open to all Muslims for prayer.

Why did Erdogan restore Hagia Sophia as a mosque in 2020?

Because he wanted to end its 86-year museum status to return it to its original role as a mosque.

However, the government's decision to charge tourists an entrance fee of nearly $28 to visit the Hagia Sophia has been seen as a move to restrict access to the site and to prioritize Muslim worshippers over tourists.

Title:

Content: Turkey’s iconic Hagia Sophia mosque to charge $28 entry fee for tourists

Published: Updated:
Read Mode
100% Font Size

Turkey’s Hagia Sophia mosque began charging tourists nearly $28 on Monday for entrance to the landmark site.

The UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its blue-tiled interior, will no longer allow free admission to foreigners, the Turkish tourism ministry announced.

For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

The former museum-turned mosque has a new entrance in front of the Topkapi Palace Museum open for tourists.

Tunnel entrance at Turkey's Hagia Sophia. (File photo)

The Hagia Sophia was a museum space from 1934 until 2020 when Turkey decided to change it to a mosque. Various historical reports say the mosque with byzantine architecture was an Orthodox cathedral decades ago.

“With the new application that will start on January 15 at the Hagia Sophia Mosque, tourists will be able to visit the mosque without disturbing the prayer environment,” the ministry said in a statement.

The entrance to the mosque will be “provided in a controlled manner through the tunnel and entrance ramp where visitors will be transported to the gallery floor and exited via the ramp in the northeast direction,” the statement said.

“Tourists who come to the gallery section will be able to see the sanctuary floor of the mosque and the Ottoman Period annexes, pass through the heaven-hell gate, and examine the Byzantine Period mosaics in this section,” it added.

Security cameras, fire detection and emergency announcement systems were reportedly installed in the mosque along the tour route. Cleaning and conservation work on the marble coverings and wooden railings on the gallery floor of the mosque was also carried out by restorers and conservators.

Visitors will also have access to a headset guide with QR codes where information on the sight is available in 23 languages.

People visit the Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Istanbul, Turkey, July 10, 2020. (Reuters)

Read more:

Ramadan prayers return to Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia mosque after 88 years

Turkey says UNESCO criticism of Hagia Sophia conversion ‘biased and political’

Erdogan names ex-environment minister as his party’s Istanbul mayor candidate

Top Content Trending

The controversy surrounding the Hagia Sophia is not an isolated incident, as Erdogan's government has also converted other historic churches into mosques, including the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora.

The Chora Church, which was built in the 5th century, was converted into a mosque in the 16th century and was later converted into a museum in 1945.

Title:

Content: Turkey officially opens the Byzantine church and museum "Khora" as a mosque (PHOTOS)
World News
"Kari Mosque" in the Museum and Monastery of "Khora"
Copy Link https: / / www.rt.com / xhpk
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday officially opened the Kari Mosque in Istanbul ’ s Byzantine Museum and Monastery of Khora, four years after the church dedicated a mosque to Muslims.
On Monday, Erdogan oversaw the official remote opening of the Khora mosque and a number of restored sites from the conference hall of his residence in Ankara.
Erdogan said during the opening ceremony, which was broadcast on Turkish television, "May it be a good start."
One of the first worshipers at the mosque told Anadolu Agency: “I have been waiting for its opening for four years, and I have been honored to pray in such a place. ”
Anadolu quoted another serum as saying: “Thank God for showing us these days, I hope we come here from time to time and do our prayers. ”
The site near the walls of the old city of Istanbul is famous for its fine mosaics and frescoes.
The church dates back to the 4th century, although the edifice took its present form during the 11th and 12th centuries.
Greece has criticized the Turkish government ’ s decision to return it to use as a mosque, accusing Ankara of “personal insult ” to another World Heritage site, saying the decisions to turn Hagia Sophia and Khora back into mosques are steps aimed at strengthening the support base of conservatives and the religious trend of Erdogan ’ s ruling party amid an economic downturn.
The museum was built "Khora" monastery, in 534, the building was converted into "Kari Mosque" at the beginning of the 16th century, it was used as a mosque for more than four centuries and was converted into a museum in 1945 by a Turkish ministerial decision.
In August 2020, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree on the conversion of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral and the Kari Museum, known as a “bottomless church ” in Turkish, into mosques.
The conversion of the two churches into mosques was praised by Muslims, but drew criticism from Greece and other countries that urged Turkey to protect important Byzantine monuments, both of which have been listed as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations.
Source: A B
Agree.
This website uses cookies. You can read the terms of use to activate this feature by clicking here

The reconversion of the Chora Church into a mosque has been seen as a highly symbolic move, as it is one of the most important Byzantine monuments in Istanbul.

The Turkish government's decision to convert the Chora Church into a mosque has been criticized by the Greek Prime Minister, who stated that it is an "action that offends the rich history of Istanbul itself as a crossroads of cultures".

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

The controversy surrounding the Hagia Sophia and the Chora Church is a complex issue that involves not only religious and cultural considerations but also political and economic factors.

The Turkish government's move to convert these historic churches into mosques has been seen as a highly politicized move that is aimed at shoring up Erdogan's Islamo-nationalist base.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

The decision has also been criticized for its potential to damage the cultural and historical significance of the sites, as well as its potential to restrict access to the sites and to prioritize Muslim worshippers over tourists.

In conclusion, the controversy surrounding the Hagia Sophia and the Chora Church is a complex issue that involves a range of factors, including religious, cultural, political, and economic considerations.

The Turkish government's decision to convert these historic churches into mosques has been widely criticized, and it remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the future.

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

The Turkish government has announced plans to implement a visitor management policy at the Hagia Sophia, which will include charging foreign tourists an entrance fee and restricting access to the site.

The policy has been criticized for its potential to restrict access to the site and to prioritize Muslim worshippers over tourists.

The Turkish government has also announced plans to restore the Hagia Sophia, which has been damaged by years of neglect and poor maintenance.

The restoration plans have been welcomed by many, who see it as a necessary step to preserve the cultural and historical significance of the site.

What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

However, the plans have also been criticized for their potential to damage the site's cultural and historical significance, as well as their potential to restrict access to the site.

In 2022, a video showed fragments falling from the dome of the Hagia Sophia, which raised serious questions over the safety of the former Orthodox Christian cathedral.

The footage released by the Turkish newspaper BirGün showed visitors rushing to take cover as fragments fell from the dome.

The Turkish Art History Association has argued that the monument needs to be restored as soon as possible, suggesting that "If Hagia Sophia is not restored, it will collapse with the first earthquake".

The association has also criticized the Turkish government's decision to convert the Hagia Sophia into a mosque, stating that it has led to a significant increase in visitors, which has put a strain on the site's infrastructure.

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

The policy has been criticized for its potential to restrict access to the site and to prioritize Muslim worshippers over tourists.

The Hagia Sophia has received 21 million visitors since it was converted into a mosque in 2020, according to Turkey's tourism and culture minister.

The site has undergone significant damage since its conversion, including the damage to the ancient marble floors and the historic Imperial Gate.

The Turkish government has announced plans to restore the Hagia Sophia, which has been damaged by years of neglect and poor maintenance.

The restoration plans have been welcomed by many, who see it as a necessary step to preserve the cultural and historical significance of the site.

What kind of domestic reaction did Erdogan's reconversion of Hagia Sophia receive?

However, the plans have also been criticized for their potential to damage the site's cultural and historical significance, as well as their potential to restrict access to the site.

The controversy surrounding the Hagia Sophia is a complex issue that involves a range of factors, including religious, cultural, political, and economic considerations.

The controversy surrounding the Hagia Sophia is a complex issue that involves a range of factors, including religious, cultural, political, and economic considerations.

The Turkish government's decision to convert the Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been widely criticized, and it remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the future.

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

Who was angered by the reconversion of Hagia Sophia in July 2020?

The Turkish government has also converted other historic churches into mosques, including the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora.

The Chora Church, which was built in the 5th century, was converted into a mosque in the 16th century and was later converted into a museum in 1945.

The reconversion of the Chora Church into a mosque has been seen as a highly symbolic move, as it is one of the most important Byzantine monuments in Istanbul.

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

The Turkish government's move to convert these historic churches into mosques has been seen as a highly politicized move that is aimed at shoring up Erdogan's Islamo-nationalist base.

What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.


The Indian government is currently documenting medicinal herbs of tribal communities across the country, with a pilot project in Uttarakhand resulting in a five-volume book series of over 1,400 medicinal plants.

Researchers are also exploring the potential of traditional Indian herbs in treating specific diseases, such as long Covid, with a clinical trial involving 2,000 people in the UK using Ashwagandha, an Indian herb traditionally used to boost energy and reduce stress.

Additionally, scientists have identified 400 medicinal plants with anti-diabetic properties, including 21 herbs that have been found to have prominent anti-hyperglycemic action.

Institutions such as the All India Institute of Ayurveda and the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research are also involved in researching and promoting traditional Indian medicine.

The Indian government has also established the Central Research Institute of Yoga & Naturopathy, which will focus on fundamental aspects, scientific validation of traditional systems of medicine and practices through evidence-based research.

Furthermore, the World Health Organization is interested in alternative medicine and has announced plans to set up a global centre for traditional medicine in India, with an investment of $250 million.

The centre will aim to provide a reliable evidence base for policy and standards of traditional medicine practices and products, and will help countries integrate these practices into their health systems.

Overall, there is a growing interest in traditional Indian medicine, with a focus on researching and applying its principles to treat specific diseases and promote overall health and wellbeing.

The Indian government is currently documenting medicinal herbs of tribal communities across the country, with a pilot project in Uttarakhand resulting in a five-volume book series of over 1,400 medicinal plants.

Title:

Content: Govt to document medicinal herbs of tribal communities

Centre to document medicinal herbs of tribal communities across country

The union ministry of tribal affairs carried out the initiative in Kerala, Rajasthan, Maharashtra as well as in Uttarakhand

The Centre is working on documenting medicinal herbs and healers of the tribal communities across the country. A pilot from Uttarakhand has been completed, resulting in a five-volume book series of over 1,400 medicinal plants. The exercise, officials said, will be carried out in more states.

The union ministry of tribal affairs carried out the initiative in Kerala, Rajasthan, Maharashtra as well as in Uttarakhand. Apart from documenting the plant and healers, they also documented the Sanskrit names of these plants.

In Kerala, the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham was given the responsibility, All India Institute of Medical Studies Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences Ahmedabad for Maharashtra, and Patanjali carried it out in Uttarakhand.

While the others are carrying it out, Patanjali’s series of seven tomes are ready. In the hill state three districts were chosen, which included Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar, all phytodiversity was documented by a team of over 50-50 people over a period of two years.

When asked about the Sanskrit nomenclature, the official said that it was a way of directing attention to the functionality of the plant.

“The National Medicinal Plant Board says there are over 1,500 plants in Uttarakhand, many of which are not even documented. But in three districts alone, we found 900 plants,” a senior official of the ministry said. “Tribal medicine holds considerable interest among researchers.”

Chemical analysis of all these plants was carried out, to find the active ingredient in the plant, with the help of an HPLC machine, officials said. Apart from that, samples of these were preserved, along with data on their therapeutic use. The official said that permissions from the biodiversity board were also taken.

In addition to that, the Hyderabad-based National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) carried out a similar exercise in their areas where they found three medicinal plants, which when combined can be a cure for malaria. A similar exercise was carried out by the same team in the Rashtrapati Bhawan as well.

Healers in tribal communities in the areas that use these plants were also documented, along with data of their areas of expertise. In all, 750 healers were documented.

Officials said that after the successful pilot, the ministry has sent it to the AYUSH ministry, urging them to take it further across the country using SC/ST components from their funds. Officials also said that details of these plants will be put up online.

Check out DH's latest videos

Check out DH's latest videos

Get a round-up of the day's top stories in your inbox

Check out all newsletters

Get a round-up of the day's top stories in your inbox

Researchers are also exploring the potential of traditional Indian herbs in treating specific diseases, such as long Covid, with a clinical trial involving 2,000 people in the UK using Ashwagandha, an Indian herb traditionally used to boost energy and reduce stress.

Title:

Content: Tuesday 10 August 2021 1:10 pm

Long Covid cure? Researchers to trial traditional Indian herb treatment

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine will work with the All India Institute of Ayurveda to determine whether a traditional Indian herb can help people recover from long Covid.

Ashwagandha, commonly known as Indian winter cherry, is traditionally used in the Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine to boost energy, reduce stress and strengthen the immune system.

Experts said recent trials had proven the herb’s efficacy in reducing anxiety, stress, improving muscle strength and reducing fatigue symptoms in patients with chronic diseases.

Long Covid patients can suffer from cognitive dysfunction, poor mental health, extreme fatigue and muscle weakness.

It is estimated these symptoms affect 10 to 20 per cent of Covid survivors and can last for one to three months or longer in many cases.

The study, funded by the Ministry of Ayush of the Government of India, will include a double-blind clinical trial involving 2,000 people living in the UK with long Covid.

Half of the trial participants will take 500mg Ashwagandha tablets twice a day for three months, while the other half will be given a placebo.

Researchers will randomly select participants to have a monthly follow-up of self-reported quality of life, impairment to activities of daily living, mental and physical health symptoms, supplement use and adverse events.

The study is expected to last for over a year.

“Ashwagandha has been shown to reduce symptoms of other conditions that are similar to those of long Covid, so we are hopeful that it will be an effective way to combat the condition,” said Sanjay Kinra, professor in clinical epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

The research is also supported by the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Indian Traditional Sciences and the Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine Unit at the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Research is the only way to ensure appropriate integration of traditional medicine knowledge into mainstream medical practice,” said technical officer at WHO Geneva, Geetha Krishnan, who helped to facilitate the research project.

Share

What mental health problems does traditional Indian medicine treat?

Additionally, scientists have identified 400 medicinal plants with anti-diabetic properties, including 21 herbs that have been found to have prominent anti-hyperglycemic action.

Title:

Content: Nation

Researchers claim 400 medicinal plants have anti-diabetic properties

X

New Delhi: As a part of its initiatives to reduce the diabetic burden, the scientists have emphasised on exploring the anti-diabetic properties of around 400 medicinal plants to be used in making medicines based on ayurvedic formulations to control type-2 diabetes by reducing sugar level in blood.

According to the researchers from Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalyani, as of now, there are 21 herbal plants, including Vijayasar, Jamun, Cumin, Daruharidra, little gourd, bael, fenugreek, neem, amla, turmeric that have been found to have prominent anti-hyperglycemic action.

Stressing that diabetes cure lies in the nature, the researchers asserted that intensive studies have been done on 21 herbs and in-depth research on at least 400 herbal plants is needed to exhibit their anti-diabetic properties..

As per their research paper, which is published in the World Journal of Diabetes, these medicinal plants have been the basis of many drugs to manage diabetes. The researchers have also cited the example of BGR-34, a herbal formulation developed by the

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which has been used to manage diabetes.

The herbal drug BGR-34 contains not one, but many active compounds derived from four medicinal herbs daruharidra, gudmar, methi and vijayasar. Apart from this, giloe and majeeth have also been added to increase immunity as well as antioxidants levels, said Dr Sanchit Sharma, executive director, AIMIL Pharmaceuticals.

The study titled “Treatment on Nature’s lap: Use of Herbal Products in the Management of Hyperglycemia” stated

that although partial research conducted on eight plants, including pomegranate, shilajit, bean, tea, ginkgo biloba, and saffron demonstrate anti-diabetic properties,

it emphasised the need for further trials.

A recent study conducted by AIIMS Delhi revealed that BGR-34, an Ayurvedic medicine, not only helps in reducing sugar levels but also addresses obesity.

The researchers also noted that several allopathic drugs used in diabetes management have their origins in herbal remedies.

For instance, metformin, a widely prescribed medication, is derived from the Galega officinalis plant, which

was historically used to treat diabetes in 19th century Europe.

Next Story

In what areas have the medical uses of traditional Indian medicine been studied?

Institutions such as the All India Institute of Ayurveda and the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research are also involved in researching and promoting traditional Indian medicine.

The Indian government has also established the Central Research Institute of Yoga & Naturopathy, which will focus on fundamental aspects, scientific validation of traditional systems of medicine and practices through evidence-based research.

Title:

Content: Dibrugarh (Assam) [India], January 28 (ANI): Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal along with Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday laid the foundation stone of the Central Research Institute of Yoga & Naturopathy (CRIYN) along with a 100 bedded Yoga and Naturopathy hospital at Dihing Khamtighat in Dibrugarh.

The institution will be developed over a land parcel of nearly 15 acres (45 bighas) at an approximate investment of Rs 100 crore, with an aim at bringing a scientifically valid and useful synergy between traditional knowledge of Yoga and Naturopathy and modern tools of technology.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Says Committee To Be Formed Under Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar To Review Country's Anti-Defection Law.

It will establish benchmark standards in education, Preventive healthcare and research in the field of Yoga and Naturopathy. This state-of-the-art institute will focus on fundamental aspects, scientific validation of traditional systems of medicine and practices through evidence based research, apart from functioning as an international collaboration centre for global promotion and research in Yoga and Naturopathy.

The institute will also serve as incubation centres in startups in the field of Yoga and wellness sector.

Also Read | Thane Shocker: Three-and-Half-Year-Old Missing Boy Found Dead in Residential Building's Water Tank in Bhiwandi, Probe Underway.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, said, "Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, the Ayush movement has got a tremendous boost as it has become a pioneering force of global wellness movement. Modiji's unrelenting focus to power India's growth engine with Northeast as powerhouse is resulting unprecedented growth. Today, we lay the foundation stone for the first of its kind Central Research Institute of Yoga & Naturopathy with a 100 bedded hospital in Dibrugarh. This is yet another testament of Modiji to empower Assam and the whole of Northeast to harness its rich flora & fauna and drive expansion in Ayush sector, with peripheral growth in hospitality, patient care as well as medical tourism sectors as well. Mother Nature has blessed us with her immense beauty and this will go a long way in providing a healing touch for people, of not just the immediate region but the South Asia region, with the rejuvenated, scientifically validated treatment regime through Yoga, Naturopathy, Ayurveda and other traditional forms of medicine."

"The institution will also offer clinical training facilities to train Yoga and Naturopathy experts for capacity building programs in areas of cardiac rehabilitation, Diabetes Rehabilitation, autoimmune diseases and NCD risk reduction," he added.

Sarbananda Sonowal also said that, with research and development in the protocols of Yoga and Naturopathy, CRIYN will develop evidence based protocols for management of NCDs that can be integrated with conventional care, reinforcing the Integrated Medicine approach of patient care.

The hospital will provide for inpatient services with Yoga and naturopathy protocols to heal and enrich quality of lives.

On this occassion Sarbananda Sonowal talked about Atmanirbhar Bharat stating, Modiji makes it a point to empower, enable and energise Northeast as the Powerhouse of India's economic growth, we stand at the threshold of an opportunity to seize the moment as India cruise towards becoming an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Adding further, Sarbananda Sonowal said, "Dibrugarh has an illustrious history as the nerve centre of this region. Endowed with natural resources, it has always proved as a major driver of growth. Under the inspiring leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, this growth saga has gained momentum since 2014. The resurgence of Ayush at the forefront of global wellness movement not only provides an economic rationale for India, but, more importantly, it is the virtuous and apt direction towards building a Swastha Bharat - a vision of Modiji. Today's initiative is a strong step towards realisation of this beautiful vision."

The event was also graced by the Union Minister of State Rameswar Teli, the Minister of Health & Family Welfare of Assam, Keshab Mahanta, the Minister of Industries & Commerce and Culture, Bimal Borah; the MLA of Dibrugarh and Chairman, Assam Industrial Development Council (AIDC), Prasanta Phukan; MLA of Moran, Chakradhar Gogoi, MLA of Duliajan, Terash Gowalla; MLA of Lahowal, Binod Hazarika; MLA of Chabua, Ponakan Baruah; MLA of Naharkatia, Taranga Gogoi among other dignitaries including senior officials of the Ministry of Ayush as well as Government of Assam.

"The centre will provide inpatient, outpatient, and day care services. The services offered by the centre are naturopathy diet and nutrition, yoga therapy, massage & manipulative therapies, acupressure, acupuncture, chromotherapy, magneto therapy, physiotherapy and hydrotherapy treatments," Sarbananda Sonowal said.

"It will help patients to effectively manage Obesity, Metabolic syndrome, diabetes, CVD, stroke, Asthma, COPD, Migraine, IBS, IBD, Arthritis, Autoimmune diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases," he added.(ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

Furthermore, the World Health Organization is interested in alternative medicine and has announced plans to set up a global centre for traditional medicine in India, with an investment of $250 million.

Title:

Content: Archive / Lifestyle
The World Health Organization is interested in alternative medicine.
Mohamed Ismail - Cairo - DPA -
Many people use traditional medicine – but what do these methods really do?
A new WHO centre intends to explore this.
The center is based in India, a country where alternative medicine is so important that it even has its own ministry – which specializes in Ayurveda, Yoga, Physiotherapy, Greek Medicine, Master and Homeopathy.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the opening of the centre in Jamnagar in mid-April, saying: “India ’ s traditional medicine system is not just a cure.
It ’ s a comprehensive science of life. ”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Indian government is supporting the centre with US $250 million (230 million euros).
WHO President Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “The center aims to be an engine of innovation, moving towards an agenda of evidence, data and sustainability in traditional medicine, ” adding that the center would connect traditional medicine practitioners around the world and help set standards for research.
Traditional medicine is a broad field.
According to the World Health Organization ’ s statement for the center, 80% of the world ’ s population uses traditional medicine, which includes among other things acupuncture, Ayurvedic medicine and herbal blends.
Traditional medicine is also represented in modern science.
According to the World Health Organization, about 40% of all drugs approved today are derived from natural substances.
The discovery of aspirin, for example, is based on ancient recipes made from the bark of the willow tree.
The research for artemisinin for use in the fight against malaria, for which the Nobel Prize was awarded in 2015, began with the study of ancient texts of Chinese medicine.
George Rochmeyer of Cochrane, an international network that provides the scientific basis for decisions in the health field, said it makes sense at least to take a closer look at treatment methods that have been developed over centuries, to verify the reasonableness of these methods, and to conduct clinical studies on them in case of doubt.
Cochrane reviews are systematic reviews that collect all scientific evidence on a specific issue from medicine or other health sciences.
However, Rochmeyer also stressed that besides the examples of traditional methods cited by the WHO, which form the basis of currently developed treatments, there are likely many other examples where traditional methods of careful review have proven ineffective or even dangerous, such as phlebotomy, noting that spending too much money on studies to review a therapeutic practice is always a matter of discretion.
Rochmeyer stated that there are many Cochrane reviews about the use of traditional methods such as acupuncture in certain cases, but: “From my personal experience at Cochrane, I would say that I have not come across many reviews that have shown really compelling evidence for traditional therapeutic practice. ”
This is often due to the fact that when searching for these treatments we find only a few often-poorly conducted studies that cannot prove or disprove any benefit from them – which brings us back to the question of whether the already limited research funds should be invested in a scientifically unreasonable procedure – for example, homeopathy.
Professor Emeritus Edzard Ernst, a longtime professor of alternative medicine at the University of Exeter, noted that while it was necessary to wait and see who would lead the center and what it would do, the WHO press release was full of exaggerations.
The World Health Organization says it also wants to use new technologies at the new center for the study of traditional medicine — via artificial intelligence and big data, for example.
The center is expected to focus on providing a reliable evidence base for policy and standards of traditional medicine practices and products.
In addition, the center is supposed to help countries integrate these practices into their health systems.
You may also read.

The centre will aim to provide a reliable evidence base for policy and standards of traditional medicine practices and products, and will help countries integrate these practices into their health systems.

What is the World Health Organization doing to promote traditional medicine, including Ayurveda?

Gathering evidence and data to guide policies

Establishing rules for the safe, fair, and effective use of traditional medicine

Overall, there is a growing interest in traditional Indian medicine, with a focus on researching and applying its principles to treat specific diseases and promote overall health and wellbeing.

What does traditional Indian medicine generally treat?

What mental health problems does traditional Indian medicine treat?

Support the management of symptoms related to mental health.


Traditional Indian medicine, also known as Ayurveda, has been gaining attention in recent years for its potential in treating various diseases and promoting overall health and wellness.

According to researchers from the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalyani, around 400 medicinal plants have been found to have anti-diabetic properties.

These medicinal plants have been the basis of many drugs to manage diabetes, and researchers have cited the example of BGR-34, a herbal formulation developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which has been used to manage diabetes.

The herbal drug BGR-34 contains active compounds derived from four medicinal herbs, including daruharidra, gudmar, methi, and vijayasar, and has been found to not only reduce sugar levels but also address obesity.

In addition to diabetes, traditional Indian medicine has also been found to be effective in treating other diseases, such as malaria, with researchers from the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) discovering three medicinal plants that can be combined to cure malaria.

The Indian government has also been promoting the development of traditional Indian medicine, with the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, laying the foundation stone of the Central Research Institute of Yoga & Naturopathy (CRIYN) along with a 100-bedded Yoga and Naturopathy hospital in Dibrugarh.

The institute will focus on fundamental aspects, scientific validation of traditional systems of medicine and practices through evidence-based research, and will also serve as an international collaboration centre for global promotion and research in Yoga and Naturopathy.

Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) has also taken an interest in traditional Indian medicine, with the establishment of a global centre for traditional medicine in India, which will focus on providing a reliable evidence base for policy and standards of traditional medicine practices and products.

The centre will also help countries integrate these practices into their health systems and will use new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and big data, to study traditional medicine.

In terms of specific cases of treatment, a study conducted by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that Ashwagandha, a traditional Indian herb, can help people recover from long Covid.

The study, which involved 2,000 people living in the UK with long Covid, found that Ashwagandha reduced symptoms of anxiety, stress, and fatigue, and improved muscle strength and cognitive function.

Another study conducted by the All India Institute of Ayurveda found that a herbal formulation containing Ashwagandha, along with other herbs, can help reduce symptoms of diabetes and obesity.

Institutions such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalyani, and the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, are also conducting research on traditional Indian medicine and its applications in treating various diseases.

The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) is also involved in researching traditional Indian medicine, with a focus on discovering new medicinal plants and developing herbal formulations.

Overall, traditional Indian medicine has shown significant potential in treating various diseases and promoting overall health and wellness, and further research and development are needed to fully harness its benefits.

The Indian government's efforts to promote the development of traditional Indian medicine, along with the establishment of research institutions and centres, are a step in the right direction.

The WHO's interest in traditional Indian medicine is also a positive development, and the establishment of a global centre for traditional medicine in India will help to promote the use of traditional medicine globally.

In conclusion, traditional Indian medicine has a lot to offer in terms of treating various diseases and promoting overall health and wellness, and further research and development are needed to fully harness its benefits.

Traditional Indian medicine, also known as Ayurveda, has been gaining attention in recent years for its potential in treating various diseases and promoting overall health and wellness.

According to researchers from the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalyani, around 400 medicinal plants have been found to have anti-diabetic properties.

Title:

Content: Nation

Researchers claim 400 medicinal plants have anti-diabetic properties

X

New Delhi: As a part of its initiatives to reduce the diabetic burden, the scientists have emphasised on exploring the anti-diabetic properties of around 400 medicinal plants to be used in making medicines based on ayurvedic formulations to control type-2 diabetes by reducing sugar level in blood.

According to the researchers from Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalyani, as of now, there are 21 herbal plants, including Vijayasar, Jamun, Cumin, Daruharidra, little gourd, bael, fenugreek, neem, amla, turmeric that have been found to have prominent anti-hyperglycemic action.

Stressing that diabetes cure lies in the nature, the researchers asserted that intensive studies have been done on 21 herbs and in-depth research on at least 400 herbal plants is needed to exhibit their anti-diabetic properties..

As per their research paper, which is published in the World Journal of Diabetes, these medicinal plants have been the basis of many drugs to manage diabetes. The researchers have also cited the example of BGR-34, a herbal formulation developed by the

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which has been used to manage diabetes.

The herbal drug BGR-34 contains not one, but many active compounds derived from four medicinal herbs daruharidra, gudmar, methi and vijayasar. Apart from this, giloe and majeeth have also been added to increase immunity as well as antioxidants levels, said Dr Sanchit Sharma, executive director, AIMIL Pharmaceuticals.

The study titled “Treatment on Nature’s lap: Use of Herbal Products in the Management of Hyperglycemia” stated

that although partial research conducted on eight plants, including pomegranate, shilajit, bean, tea, ginkgo biloba, and saffron demonstrate anti-diabetic properties,

it emphasised the need for further trials.

A recent study conducted by AIIMS Delhi revealed that BGR-34, an Ayurvedic medicine, not only helps in reducing sugar levels but also addresses obesity.

The researchers also noted that several allopathic drugs used in diabetes management have their origins in herbal remedies.

For instance, metformin, a widely prescribed medication, is derived from the Galega officinalis plant, which

was historically used to treat diabetes in 19th century Europe.

Next Story

In what areas have the medical uses of traditional Indian medicine been studied?

These medicinal plants have been the basis of many drugs to manage diabetes, and researchers have cited the example of BGR-34, a herbal formulation developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which has been used to manage diabetes.

In what areas have the medical uses of traditional Indian medicine been studied?

The herbal drug BGR-34 contains active compounds derived from four medicinal herbs, including daruharidra, gudmar, methi, and vijayasar, and has been found to not only reduce sugar levels but also address obesity.

In what areas have the medical uses of traditional Indian medicine been studied?

In addition to diabetes, traditional Indian medicine has also been found to be effective in treating other diseases, such as malaria, with researchers from the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) discovering three medicinal plants that can be combined to cure malaria.

Title:

Content: Govt to document medicinal herbs of tribal communities

Centre to document medicinal herbs of tribal communities across country

The union ministry of tribal affairs carried out the initiative in Kerala, Rajasthan, Maharashtra as well as in Uttarakhand

The Centre is working on documenting medicinal herbs and healers of the tribal communities across the country. A pilot from Uttarakhand has been completed, resulting in a five-volume book series of over 1,400 medicinal plants. The exercise, officials said, will be carried out in more states.

The union ministry of tribal affairs carried out the initiative in Kerala, Rajasthan, Maharashtra as well as in Uttarakhand. Apart from documenting the plant and healers, they also documented the Sanskrit names of these plants.

In Kerala, the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham was given the responsibility, All India Institute of Medical Studies Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences Ahmedabad for Maharashtra, and Patanjali carried it out in Uttarakhand.

While the others are carrying it out, Patanjali’s series of seven tomes are ready. In the hill state three districts were chosen, which included Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar, all phytodiversity was documented by a team of over 50-50 people over a period of two years.

When asked about the Sanskrit nomenclature, the official said that it was a way of directing attention to the functionality of the plant.

“The National Medicinal Plant Board says there are over 1,500 plants in Uttarakhand, many of which are not even documented. But in three districts alone, we found 900 plants,” a senior official of the ministry said. “Tribal medicine holds considerable interest among researchers.”

Chemical analysis of all these plants was carried out, to find the active ingredient in the plant, with the help of an HPLC machine, officials said. Apart from that, samples of these were preserved, along with data on their therapeutic use. The official said that permissions from the biodiversity board were also taken.

In addition to that, the Hyderabad-based National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) carried out a similar exercise in their areas where they found three medicinal plants, which when combined can be a cure for malaria. A similar exercise was carried out by the same team in the Rashtrapati Bhawan as well.

Healers in tribal communities in the areas that use these plants were also documented, along with data of their areas of expertise. In all, 750 healers were documented.

Officials said that after the successful pilot, the ministry has sent it to the AYUSH ministry, urging them to take it further across the country using SC/ST components from their funds. Officials also said that details of these plants will be put up online.

Check out DH's latest videos

Check out DH's latest videos

Get a round-up of the day's top stories in your inbox

Check out all newsletters

Get a round-up of the day's top stories in your inbox

The Indian government has also been promoting the development of traditional Indian medicine, with the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, laying the foundation stone of the Central Research Institute of Yoga & Naturopathy (CRIYN) along with a 100-bedded Yoga and Naturopathy hospital in Dibrugarh.

Title:

Content: Dibrugarh (Assam) [India], January 28 (ANI): Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal along with Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday laid the foundation stone of the Central Research Institute of Yoga & Naturopathy (CRIYN) along with a 100 bedded Yoga and Naturopathy hospital at Dihing Khamtighat in Dibrugarh.

The institution will be developed over a land parcel of nearly 15 acres (45 bighas) at an approximate investment of Rs 100 crore, with an aim at bringing a scientifically valid and useful synergy between traditional knowledge of Yoga and Naturopathy and modern tools of technology.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Says Committee To Be Formed Under Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar To Review Country's Anti-Defection Law.

It will establish benchmark standards in education, Preventive healthcare and research in the field of Yoga and Naturopathy. This state-of-the-art institute will focus on fundamental aspects, scientific validation of traditional systems of medicine and practices through evidence based research, apart from functioning as an international collaboration centre for global promotion and research in Yoga and Naturopathy.

The institute will also serve as incubation centres in startups in the field of Yoga and wellness sector.

Also Read | Thane Shocker: Three-and-Half-Year-Old Missing Boy Found Dead in Residential Building's Water Tank in Bhiwandi, Probe Underway.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, said, "Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, the Ayush movement has got a tremendous boost as it has become a pioneering force of global wellness movement. Modiji's unrelenting focus to power India's growth engine with Northeast as powerhouse is resulting unprecedented growth. Today, we lay the foundation stone for the first of its kind Central Research Institute of Yoga & Naturopathy with a 100 bedded hospital in Dibrugarh. This is yet another testament of Modiji to empower Assam and the whole of Northeast to harness its rich flora & fauna and drive expansion in Ayush sector, with peripheral growth in hospitality, patient care as well as medical tourism sectors as well. Mother Nature has blessed us with her immense beauty and this will go a long way in providing a healing touch for people, of not just the immediate region but the South Asia region, with the rejuvenated, scientifically validated treatment regime through Yoga, Naturopathy, Ayurveda and other traditional forms of medicine."

"The institution will also offer clinical training facilities to train Yoga and Naturopathy experts for capacity building programs in areas of cardiac rehabilitation, Diabetes Rehabilitation, autoimmune diseases and NCD risk reduction," he added.

Sarbananda Sonowal also said that, with research and development in the protocols of Yoga and Naturopathy, CRIYN will develop evidence based protocols for management of NCDs that can be integrated with conventional care, reinforcing the Integrated Medicine approach of patient care.

The hospital will provide for inpatient services with Yoga and naturopathy protocols to heal and enrich quality of lives.

On this occassion Sarbananda Sonowal talked about Atmanirbhar Bharat stating, Modiji makes it a point to empower, enable and energise Northeast as the Powerhouse of India's economic growth, we stand at the threshold of an opportunity to seize the moment as India cruise towards becoming an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Adding further, Sarbananda Sonowal said, "Dibrugarh has an illustrious history as the nerve centre of this region. Endowed with natural resources, it has always proved as a major driver of growth. Under the inspiring leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, this growth saga has gained momentum since 2014. The resurgence of Ayush at the forefront of global wellness movement not only provides an economic rationale for India, but, more importantly, it is the virtuous and apt direction towards building a Swastha Bharat - a vision of Modiji. Today's initiative is a strong step towards realisation of this beautiful vision."

The event was also graced by the Union Minister of State Rameswar Teli, the Minister of Health & Family Welfare of Assam, Keshab Mahanta, the Minister of Industries & Commerce and Culture, Bimal Borah; the MLA of Dibrugarh and Chairman, Assam Industrial Development Council (AIDC), Prasanta Phukan; MLA of Moran, Chakradhar Gogoi, MLA of Duliajan, Terash Gowalla; MLA of Lahowal, Binod Hazarika; MLA of Chabua, Ponakan Baruah; MLA of Naharkatia, Taranga Gogoi among other dignitaries including senior officials of the Ministry of Ayush as well as Government of Assam.

"The centre will provide inpatient, outpatient, and day care services. The services offered by the centre are naturopathy diet and nutrition, yoga therapy, massage & manipulative therapies, acupressure, acupuncture, chromotherapy, magneto therapy, physiotherapy and hydrotherapy treatments," Sarbananda Sonowal said.

"It will help patients to effectively manage Obesity, Metabolic syndrome, diabetes, CVD, stroke, Asthma, COPD, Migraine, IBS, IBD, Arthritis, Autoimmune diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases," he added.(ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

The institute will focus on fundamental aspects, scientific validation of traditional systems of medicine and practices through evidence-based research, and will also serve as an international collaboration centre for global promotion and research in Yoga and Naturopathy.

Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) has also taken an interest in traditional Indian medicine, with the establishment of a global centre for traditional medicine in India, which will focus on providing a reliable evidence base for policy and standards of traditional medicine practices and products.

Title:

Content: Archive / Lifestyle
The World Health Organization is interested in alternative medicine.
Mohamed Ismail - Cairo - DPA -
Many people use traditional medicine – but what do these methods really do?
A new WHO centre intends to explore this.
The center is based in India, a country where alternative medicine is so important that it even has its own ministry – which specializes in Ayurveda, Yoga, Physiotherapy, Greek Medicine, Master and Homeopathy.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the opening of the centre in Jamnagar in mid-April, saying: “India ’ s traditional medicine system is not just a cure.
It ’ s a comprehensive science of life. ”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Indian government is supporting the centre with US $250 million (230 million euros).
WHO President Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “The center aims to be an engine of innovation, moving towards an agenda of evidence, data and sustainability in traditional medicine, ” adding that the center would connect traditional medicine practitioners around the world and help set standards for research.
Traditional medicine is a broad field.
According to the World Health Organization ’ s statement for the center, 80% of the world ’ s population uses traditional medicine, which includes among other things acupuncture, Ayurvedic medicine and herbal blends.
Traditional medicine is also represented in modern science.
According to the World Health Organization, about 40% of all drugs approved today are derived from natural substances.
The discovery of aspirin, for example, is based on ancient recipes made from the bark of the willow tree.
The research for artemisinin for use in the fight against malaria, for which the Nobel Prize was awarded in 2015, began with the study of ancient texts of Chinese medicine.
George Rochmeyer of Cochrane, an international network that provides the scientific basis for decisions in the health field, said it makes sense at least to take a closer look at treatment methods that have been developed over centuries, to verify the reasonableness of these methods, and to conduct clinical studies on them in case of doubt.
Cochrane reviews are systematic reviews that collect all scientific evidence on a specific issue from medicine or other health sciences.
However, Rochmeyer also stressed that besides the examples of traditional methods cited by the WHO, which form the basis of currently developed treatments, there are likely many other examples where traditional methods of careful review have proven ineffective or even dangerous, such as phlebotomy, noting that spending too much money on studies to review a therapeutic practice is always a matter of discretion.
Rochmeyer stated that there are many Cochrane reviews about the use of traditional methods such as acupuncture in certain cases, but: “From my personal experience at Cochrane, I would say that I have not come across many reviews that have shown really compelling evidence for traditional therapeutic practice. ”
This is often due to the fact that when searching for these treatments we find only a few often-poorly conducted studies that cannot prove or disprove any benefit from them – which brings us back to the question of whether the already limited research funds should be invested in a scientifically unreasonable procedure – for example, homeopathy.
Professor Emeritus Edzard Ernst, a longtime professor of alternative medicine at the University of Exeter, noted that while it was necessary to wait and see who would lead the center and what it would do, the WHO press release was full of exaggerations.
The World Health Organization says it also wants to use new technologies at the new center for the study of traditional medicine — via artificial intelligence and big data, for example.
The center is expected to focus on providing a reliable evidence base for policy and standards of traditional medicine practices and products.
In addition, the center is supposed to help countries integrate these practices into their health systems.
You may also read.

What is the World Health Organization doing to promote traditional medicine, including Ayurveda?

Gathering evidence and data to guide policies

Establishing rules for the safe, fair, and effective use of traditional medicine

The centre will also help countries integrate these practices into their health systems and will use new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and big data, to study traditional medicine.

What is the World Health Organization doing to promote traditional medicine, including Ayurveda?

Gathering evidence and data to guide policies

In terms of specific cases of treatment, a study conducted by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that Ashwagandha, a traditional Indian herb, can help people recover from long Covid.

Title:

Content: Tuesday 10 August 2021 1:10 pm

Long Covid cure? Researchers to trial traditional Indian herb treatment

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine will work with the All India Institute of Ayurveda to determine whether a traditional Indian herb can help people recover from long Covid.

Ashwagandha, commonly known as Indian winter cherry, is traditionally used in the Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine to boost energy, reduce stress and strengthen the immune system.

Experts said recent trials had proven the herb’s efficacy in reducing anxiety, stress, improving muscle strength and reducing fatigue symptoms in patients with chronic diseases.

Long Covid patients can suffer from cognitive dysfunction, poor mental health, extreme fatigue and muscle weakness.

It is estimated these symptoms affect 10 to 20 per cent of Covid survivors and can last for one to three months or longer in many cases.

The study, funded by the Ministry of Ayush of the Government of India, will include a double-blind clinical trial involving 2,000 people living in the UK with long Covid.

Half of the trial participants will take 500mg Ashwagandha tablets twice a day for three months, while the other half will be given a placebo.

Researchers will randomly select participants to have a monthly follow-up of self-reported quality of life, impairment to activities of daily living, mental and physical health symptoms, supplement use and adverse events.

The study is expected to last for over a year.

“Ashwagandha has been shown to reduce symptoms of other conditions that are similar to those of long Covid, so we are hopeful that it will be an effective way to combat the condition,” said Sanjay Kinra, professor in clinical epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

The research is also supported by the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Indian Traditional Sciences and the Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine Unit at the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Research is the only way to ensure appropriate integration of traditional medicine knowledge into mainstream medical practice,” said technical officer at WHO Geneva, Geetha Krishnan, who helped to facilitate the research project.

Share

The study, which involved 2,000 people living in the UK with long Covid, found that Ashwagandha reduced symptoms of anxiety, stress, and fatigue, and improved muscle strength and cognitive function.

In what areas have the medical uses of traditional Indian medicine been studied?

Treatment on neurological conditions
Treatment on mental health disorders

What does traditional Indian medicine generally treat?

It addresses the psychological aspects of health conditions.

What mental health problems does traditional Indian medicine treat?

Support the management of symptoms related to mental health.

Another study conducted by the All India Institute of Ayurveda found that a herbal formulation containing Ashwagandha, along with other herbs, can help reduce symptoms of diabetes and obesity.

In what areas have the medical uses of traditional Indian medicine been studied?

Institutions such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalyani, and the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, are also conducting research on traditional Indian medicine and its applications in treating various diseases.

The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) is also involved in researching traditional Indian medicine, with a focus on discovering new medicinal plants and developing herbal formulations.

Overall, traditional Indian medicine has shown significant potential in treating various diseases and promoting overall health and wellness, and further research and development are needed to fully harness its benefits.

What does traditional Indian medicine generally treat?

What mental health problems does traditional Indian medicine treat?

Support the management of symptoms related to mental health.

What treatment did Former Kenyan President's daughter Rosemary Odinga get that helped her regain eyesight?

Traditional Indian medicine Ayurvedic treatment.

The Indian government's efforts to promote the development of traditional Indian medicine, along with the establishment of research institutions and centres, are a step in the right direction.

The WHO's interest in traditional Indian medicine is also a positive development, and the establishment of a global centre for traditional medicine in India will help to promote the use of traditional medicine globally.

In conclusion, traditional Indian medicine has a lot to offer in terms of treating various diseases and promoting overall health and wellness, and further research and development are needed to fully harness its benefits.

What does traditional Indian medicine generally treat?

What mental health problems does traditional Indian medicine treat?

Support the management of symptoms related to mental health.


The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen has been a target of repeated intentional damages over the years, with the first incident occurring in 1964 when the head of the statue was stolen.

The statue was again vandalized in 1998, when a group of vandals cut off its head, but it was later restored.

In 1984, the statue suffered another incident, with its arm being severed.

The statue was also blown loose with explosives in 2003 and fell into the bay.

In addition to these incidents, the statue has been graffitied and painted several times, with one instance being in 2017 when it was doused in red paint in a protest against whale hunting.

Another incident occurred in 2020, when the words "racist fish" were painted on the base of the statue during worldwide protests after the death of George Floyd.

More recently, the statue was vandalized again, with the Russian flag being painted on its base, in an incident that is believed to show support for Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The repeated damages to the statue have been investigated by the Copenhagen police, who have launched an investigation into the latest incident.

The statue, which was created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen in 1913, has been a popular tourist attraction and a symbol of Danish culture, but it has also been a target of vandalism and protests over the years.

The Copenhagen police are working to find out who is responsible for the latest incident and to prevent future damages to the statue.

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen has been a target of repeated intentional damages over the years, with the first incident occurring in 1964 when the head of the statue was stolen.

Title:

Content: Danish little mermaid like cornerstone painted Russian flag tricolor
A statue of the Little Mermaid, one of the most iconic tourist attractions in the Danish capital Copenhagen, was deliberately vandalized last night, and the cornerstone below the statue was painted with the white, blue and red colors of the Russian flag.
Advertisement
The Little Mermaid comes from the famous fairy tale of Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, where the stone beneath the bronze statue is painted in three colors of the Russian flag.
Copenhagen police told Agence France-Presse that since they arrived this morning, "a case of vandalism has been filed" and "local investigations have been launched to trace traces".
It is clear that this means supporting Moscow ’ s position in the Ukraine war.
Some tourists, puzzled by this, took pictures of the damaged statue this morning.
The 175-kilogram Little Mermaid is a work by sculptor Edvard Eriksen, inspired by the Danish poet and writer Hans Christian Andersen ’ s 1837 fairy tale of the same name.
The statue, which sits next to a relatively secluded waterfront walkway, has been vandalized several times over the years, including two burglaries of its head in 1964 and 1998, and a severed arm in 1984. In 2003, the statue was blown loose with explosives and fell into the bay.
It has also been graffitied and painted several times, most recently in 2020 with the words “racist fish. ”

The statue was again vandalized in 1998, when a group of vandals cut off its head, but it was later restored.

Title:

Content: Unknown people draw Russian flag on a statue of a mermaid in Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN (AFP) - The iconic Little Mermaid statue in the Danish capital Copenhagen was vandalized on Wednesday night as unidentified people painted the Russian flag on its base.
Announcement
An AFP correspondent reported that the Russian flag was painted under unknown circumstances on the stone above which a statue of the Little Mermaid, inspired by the heroine of one of the stories of the writer Hans Christian Andersen, was installed.
Danish police said they were launching an investigation into the incident, without giving any indication of the source of the move, which shows clear support for Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
A Copenhagen police spokesman told AFP: "We are investigating the area in order to find any evidence."
A small number of tourists in the area took pictures of the statue in the port of Copenhagen, which was vandalized on Thursday morning.
The Little Mermaid statue on a largely unfrequented promenade has been targeted several times since it was installed in 1913.
In 1964, the head of the nymph was stolen for the first time without being recovered.
In 1998, a group of vandals cut off the head of the statue again, but it was later restored.
This monument was exposed to the explosion in 2003.
The statue, created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen, has also been targeted several times with graffiti or graffiti, most recently in 2020 with the inscription “racist fish ”.

In 1984, the statue suffered another incident, with its arm being severed.

The statue was also blown loose with explosives in 2003 and fell into the bay.

In addition to these incidents, the statue has been graffitied and painted several times, with one instance being in 2017 when it was doused in red paint in a protest against whale hunting.

Title:

Content: Russian Flag Painted on Copenhagen's Most Famous Landmark

It's the latest in a long line of attacks on Little Mermaid statue
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 2, 2023 10:15 AM CST

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, one of Denmark's most famous landmarks, has been vandalized yet again, this time with the Russian flag. Authorities said Thursday that the white, blue, and red stripes of the Russian flag were painted on the stone the statue sits on, Reuters reports. Police said the vandalism was discovered early Thursday. "We are of course launching an investigation to find out who did it and when and how it happened," a police spokesman said, per Jyllands-Posten.

Denmark, like other European nations, has strongly criticized Russia's war against Ukraine. The small statue, a tribute to the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, sits off a waterfront promenade in the Danish capital. It has been vandalized many times since it was installed 110 years ago, AFP reports. It has been decapitated twice and was knocked off its base with explosives in 2003. In 2017, it was doused in red paint in a protest against whale hunting. In 2020, during worldwide protests after the death of George Floyd, the words "racist fish" were painted on the base, though Andersen scholars said they weren't aware of any racist elements in the fairy tale. (Read more The Little Mermaid stories.)

We use cookies. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Read more in our privacy policy.
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X

Another incident occurred in 2020, when the words "racist fish" were painted on the base of the statue during worldwide protests after the death of George Floyd.

More recently, the statue was vandalized again, with the Russian flag being painted on its base, in an incident that is believed to show support for Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The repeated damages to the statue have been investigated by the Copenhagen police, who have launched an investigation into the latest incident.

The statue, which was created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen in 1913, has been a popular tourist attraction and a symbol of Danish culture, but it has also been a target of vandalism and protests over the years.

The Copenhagen police are working to find out who is responsible for the latest incident and to prevent future damages to the statue.