The Greek government reacts strongly to the new Turkish challenge to convert another monument into a mosque.
“Today’s decision by the Turkish authorities to convert the Chora Church into a mosque is another challenge to the religious people everywhere and to the international community that respects the monuments of human civilization,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement and added:
“After the Hagia Sophia conversion and despite the international reactions it provoked, the status of another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Turkey is brutally offended. Despite its occasional declarations of respect for the rights of minorities and the multireligious character of its society, Turkey violates its international obligations to the World Heritage Sites located in its territory.
Today’s decision by the Turkish authorities once again exposes Turkey to the international community.
It is absolutely reprehensible. We call on this country to keep pace with international developments in the field of protection of world cultural heritage.
We call on Turkey to return to the 21st century of mutual respect, dialogue and understanding between cultures.
