A post on the account of Turkey’s Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, about Hagia Sophia was the reason why the Turkish press today interpreted this post as a sign that Hagia Sophia was to become as a Muslim mosque.
On his Twitter account, Fahrettin Altun posted a photo of Hagia Sophia – which has been converted from a Muslim mosque into a museum in 1935 – and the following phrase: “We missed it! But be patient. We’ll make it happen together.”
This phrase is displayed in today’s Turkish press with articles on the history of Hagia Sophia and on the “impatience” of the Turkish people to see this historic monument becoming a mosque again. In fact, some speculate that May 29, the day of the Fall of Constantinople (and a day of victory for Muslim Turks) may be the day that Hagia Sophia will open as a mosque and place of prayer for Muslims.
Fahrenheit Altun’s message caused great excitement, today’s Press writes. Those who saw the post began to ask when the mosques would open for prayer or when Hagia Sophia would open for Muslim worship. The Hurriyet newspaper even published a lengthy article on the history of Hagia Sophia from its foundation to the present day.
The issue of the conversion of Hagia Sophia has often been on the agenda of the Turkish leadership, and especially of President Tayyip Erdogan. On March 24, 2019, shortly before the municipal elections in Constantinople, the Turkish President stated that the conversion of the Hagia Sophia Museum into a mosque for prayer is an anticipation of the entire Turkish nation and the Muslim world.
Furthermore, since last year, a section of Hagia Sophia’s interior has been already used for Muslim prayer.
Source: ANA-MPA