A proposal for a Muslim prayer on July 15, the anniversary of the coup attempt, was presented at yesterday’s meeting of the High Advisory Board, chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, as Hürriyet reports.
The daily reminds that Tayyip Erdogan had earlier stated at a meeting of his party’s Central Committee: “God willing, we will perform a prayer following the Council of State’s decision on July 2.”
Meanwhile, “Yeni Safak” writes on the front page, under the title “The people said their last word”, that the eyes have turned to the decision of the Council of State on July 2. All polls show that the people is looking forward to the day when Hagia Sophia will open for Muslim prayer. It also mentions that a poll showing 90% of the AKP’s base wanting the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque was presented to the party’s central committee.
The poll was addressed only to Erdogan’s supporters, who are known for their fanaticism. Therefore Erdogan insists on investing in the conversion of the temple into a mosque as his popularity plummets recently, while Mayor of Constantinople Imamoglou is leading the way in opinion polls.