RE: Turkey's Erdogan orders the conversion of Hagia Sophia back into a mosque
July 13, 2020 at 10:35 am
(July 12, 2020 at 8:57 pm)masoni Wrote:(July 12, 2020 at 11:42 am)polymath257 Wrote: It is a beautiful building, scavenged by Christians from a number of pagan temples, made into a mosque when the Byzantine empire fell, and then into a museum under Attaturk.
It is too bad if the general public is going to be denied entry into this wonderfully historic place. On the other hand, people regularly visit the Blue Mosque, which is just across from the Hagia Sophia. I hope that continues as well.
As for Erodgan, he is destroying the secular society founded by Attaturk (who had his own problems, admittedly). I grieve for the historical and cultural treasures of Turkey.
It was already converted into a mosque but this ruling means that it will no longer be a tourist attraction museum which highlights the history but will instead have muslim prayers and worshippers
sad for the world heritage site
The simple fact that worship occurs there doesn't mean it won't be accessible to non-believers. I visited the Blue Mosque, even though I am an atheist. They didn't ask.
