The 2020 reconversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has generated widespread controversy, rooted in its profound **historical significance** and its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Originally constructed as a Byzantine cathedral in 537 AD, the Hagia Sophia served as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral for nearly a millennium before its conversion into a mosque following the Ottoman conquest in 1453, and later functioned as a museum from 1935 until 2020, symbolizing religious coexistence and secularism in modern Turkey .

Critics argue that the reconversion undermines this legacy, prioritizing the Islamic past over its Christian heritage and diminishing its role as a shared cultural monument, which is particularly concerning for Orthodox Christians and other religious minorities .

**Religious undertones** of the decision have drawn condemnation from the Greek Orthodox Church and other religious leaders, who describe the move as contradicting Turkey’s commitment to religious tolerance and freedom .

The covering of Christian mosaics and the imposition of entrance fees have been criticized for restricting access and diminishing the site's multi-religious character .

International organizations, including UNESCO, have expressed concern that the reconversion threatens the Hagia Sophia’s universal value and its function as a symbol of multi-faith coexistence, warning that its World Heritage status could be jeopardized if it is perceived primarily as a religious site .

**Political motivations** are widely cited by analysts, who interpret Erdoğan’s decision as a strategy to consolidate support among conservative, Islamist, and nationalist segments of the Turkish population amid economic and political challenges .

Erdoğan framed the reconversion as a "glorious chapter" in Turkish history, linking it to national pride and Islamic identity, which critics argue is intended to divert attention from domestic issues and revive his popularity .

The 2020 reconversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has generated widespread controversy, rooted in its profound **historical significance** and its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Originally constructed as a Byzantine cathedral in 537 AD, the Hagia Sophia served as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral for nearly a millennium before its conversion into a mosque following the Ottoman conquest in 1453, and later functioned as a museum from 1935 until 2020, symbolizing religious coexistence and secularism in modern Turkey .

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

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Content: Sunday, June 09, 2024
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  4. Pakistan to send 1,000 students to China for agricultural training. Here's why

Pakistan to send 1,000 students to China for agricultural training. Here's why

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif made the announcement after the conclusion of his five-day official visit to China on Saturday. He met Chinese President Xi Jinping and other officials, wherein they agreed upon the upgradation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Edited By: Aveek Banerjee @AveekABanerjee Islamabad Published on: June 09, 2024 15:54 IST

Islamabad: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that he will be sending as many as 1,000 students to its all-weather friend China for agricultural training, as per local media reports. Shehbaz made the announcement at the Yangling Agricultural Demonstration Base in Xi’an city on Saturday after concluding his five-day official visit to China.

The 72-year-old Pakistani premier also invited China’s North West Agriculture and Forestry University to open a campus in the cash-strapped country. He directed the Pakistan ambassador to China and relevant authorities to finalise the matters with the Chinese authorities in this regard, Geo News reported.

Before making the announcement, Shehbaz toured various parts of the facility and was shown Pakistani products at the Pakistan Pavilion. He was also given a briefing about the working of the Yangling Base.

Why is Pakistan sending students to China?

According to the PM, Pakistan is sending its students to China for advanced training in the agriculture sector to increase its output. “Pakistan is striving to modernise its agriculture sector to increase per acre yield of crops. Increasing the agricultural exports is one of our top-most priorities,” Sharif told Chinese officials.

Agriculture is an important part of Pakistan's economy, contributing 46 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP) and employing 37 per cent of the country's labour force. Shehbaz's visit to China came as Pakistan is struggling with a prolonged economic crisis by pursuing foreign investments and enhanced trade opportunities, while also seeking another International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout to keep economic reforms on track. According to Dawn, Pakistan's farmers have suffered significant financial losses on nearly all major crops this year.

Cotton prices, initially set at Rs 8,500 per maund (or 40kg) by the government, fell to Rs 6,000 after production, causing heavy losses. A similar situation occurred with maize, where prices dropped to half of their pre-sowing value, leaving farmers without much of their income.

Shehbaz's visit to China

Shehabaz later flew back to the country on Saturday, accompanied by his high-level delegation. During his five-day official visit, Shehbaz met Chinese President Xi Jinping and they affirmed consensus on the upgradation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and advancing high-quality development of the multi-billion dollar project in the second phase.

According to the state media, the two leaders showed consensus on the upgradation of the CPEC and advancing the development of the mega project in the second phase. The CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Pakistan's Balochistan with China's Xinjiang province, is the flagship project of China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The BRI is seen as an attempt by China to further its influence abroad with infrastructure projects funded by Chinese investments across the world. China has also invested billions in various power projects and road networks in Pakistan under the $65 billion CPEC plan, but the implementation of various projects has slowed in recent months.

(with inputs from PTI)

ALSO READ | PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony: Excluding Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif from the frame

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How did the role of Hagia Sophia change following the Ottoman conquest?

Hagia Sophia became a central Islamic religious site for centuries

Sultan Mehmed II converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque,

What was the original historical and cultural significance of Hagia Sophia in the Byzantine Empire?

Served as the central church of Byzantine Christianity,

When was Hagia Sophia built and under whose rule?

How did the role of Hagia Sophia change following the Ottoman conquest?

Hagia Sophia became a central Islamic religious site for centuries

Sultan Mehmed II converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque,

What was the original historical and cultural significance of Hagia Sophia in the Byzantine Empire?

Served as the central church of Byzantine Christianity,

When was Hagia Sophia built and under whose rule?

How did the role of Hagia Sophia change following the Ottoman conquest?

Hagia Sophia became a central Islamic religious site for centuries

Sultan Mehmed II converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque,

What was the original historical and cultural significance of Hagia Sophia in the Byzantine Empire?

Served as the central church of Byzantine Christianity,

When was Hagia Sophia built and under whose rule?

Critics argue that the reconversion undermines this legacy, prioritizing the Islamic past over its Christian heritage and diminishing its role as a shared cultural monument, which is particularly concerning for Orthodox Christians and other religious minorities .

Title:

Content: What’s in store for Paigah Palace in Hyderabad: Museum or heritage hotel?

Building's architectural marvels and historical significance make it valuable asset for Telangana

Hyderabad: Paigah Palace in Hyderabad, which served as the US Consulate in Hyderabad since 2009, will soon see a change in its identity.

With the US Consulate officially ending its lease of Paigah Palace, the fate of the building will now be decided by the state government.

Telangana state museum or heritage hotel in Hyderabad?

While the tourism and other departments had earlier proposed to convert the building into a heritage hotel on the lines of Falaknuma Palace, it now looks like the palace is likely to be converted into a state museum.

According to a report by TOI, Telangana Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao is believed to have informed HMDA officials about Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s plan to convert it into a state museum.

History of Paigah Palace in Hyderabad

Paigah Palace was built by Sir Vicar-ul-Umra, a Paigah nobleman. It is spread over four acres of land and is a double-storied building.

The palace premises consist of the main building (G+1), annexure-I building (G+3), and annexure-II (G+3) with a total built-up area of 6,211 square meters.

The US Consulate office in Hyderabad was the first US diplomatic office to open in India after 1947. Until March 15, it was housed in Paigah Palace, Chiran Fort Lane, Hyderabad.

In the past 14 years, the US Consulate approved over 16 lakh visas and processed 42511 citizenship services. However, on March 20, the US Consulate in Hyderabad began its operation at a new facility in Nanakramguda, which is the largest US diplomatic mission in South Asia, built with an investment of USD 297 million. The new consulate office, constructed on a 12.2-acre site, has many new features, including 54 visa procession windows.

Paigah Palace in Hyderabad has a rich history and cultural significance. The building’s architectural marvels and historical significance make it a valuable asset for the state of Telangana.

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How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

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

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

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

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

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

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

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

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

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

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

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

**Religious undertones** of the decision have drawn condemnation from the Greek Orthodox Church and other religious leaders, who describe the move as contradicting Turkey’s commitment to religious tolerance and freedom .

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

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

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

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

How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

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

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

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

The covering of Christian mosaics and the imposition of entrance fees have been criticized for restricting access and diminishing the site's multi-religious character .

International organizations, including UNESCO, have expressed concern that the reconversion threatens the Hagia Sophia’s universal value and its function as a symbol of multi-faith coexistence, warning that its World Heritage status could be jeopardized if it is perceived primarily as a religious site .

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Content: | 17°C Dublin

Turkish government pushes for country be known as ‘Turkiye’

Ministers have formally asked for the UN to refer to the country by a different name, to disassociate it from the bird and some negative connotations.

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Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (AP)

Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has sent a letter to the United Nations formally requesting that his country be referred to as “Turkiye”, the state-run news agency reported.

The move is seen as part of a push by Ankara to rebrand the country and dissociate its name from the bird, turkey, and some negative connotations that are associated with it.

The Anadolu Agency said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, confirmed receipt of the letter late on Wednesday.

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A square in the city of Sanliurfa, south eastern Turkey (Owen Humphreys/PA)

The agency quoted Mr Dujarric as saying that the name change had become effective “from the moment” the letter was received.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has been pressing for the internationally recognised name Turkey to be changed to “Turkiye” (pronounced tur-key-YAY) as it is spelled and pronounced in Turkish.

The country called itself “Turkiye” in 1923 after its declaration of independence.

In December, Mr Erdogan ordered the use of “Turkiye” to better represent Turkish culture and values, including a call for “Made in Turkiye” to be used instead of “Made in Turkey” on exported products.

Turkish ministries began using “Turkiye” in official documents.

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A full moon rises above the iconic Haghia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey (AP)

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Earlier this year, the government also released a promotional video as part of its attempts to change its name in English. The video shows tourists from across the world saying “Hello Turkiye” at famous destinations.

The Turkish presidency’s directorate of communications said it launched the campaign “to promote more effectively the use of ‘Turkiye’ as the country’s national and international name on international platforms”.

It is not clear whether the name will catch on widely abroad. In 2016, the Czech Republic officially registered its short-form name, Czechia. While some international institutions use this name, many still refer to the country by its longer name.

Turkey’s English-language state broadcaster TRT World has switched to using “Turkiye”, although the word “Turkey” slips in occasionally as journalists get used to the change.

TRT World explained the decision in an article earlier this year, saying that Googling “Turkey” brings up a “a muddled set of images, articles, and dictionary definitions that conflate the country with Meleagris – otherwise known as the turkey, a large bird native to North America – which is famous for being served on Christmas menus or Thanksgiving dinners”.

The network continued: “Flip through the Cambridge Dictionary and ‘turkey’ is defined as ‘something that fails badly’ or ‘a stupid or silly person’.”

TRT World argued that Turks prefer their country to be called “Turkiye”, in keeping with “the country’s aims of determining how others should identify it”.

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**Political motivations** are widely cited by analysts, who interpret Erdoğan’s decision as a strategy to consolidate support among conservative, Islamist, and nationalist segments of the Turkish population amid economic and political challenges .

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

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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

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

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

The decision aimed to rally anti-Kemalist voters.

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

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

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

The decision aimed to rally anti-Kemalist voters.

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

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

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

The decision aimed to rally anti-Kemalist voters.

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

Erdoğan framed the reconversion as a "glorious chapter" in Turkish history, linking it to national pride and Islamic identity, which critics argue is intended to divert attention from domestic issues and revive his popularity .

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

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

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

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