With so many fanatics visiting Hagia Sophia, the Turkish government does not seem willing, despite its statements, to “reveal” the rare frescoes that are part of the world heritage. After the Taliban, members of Hamas are cheering too for the conversion of the temple into a mosque, creating new data. The word of the fanatics seems to have been imposed for good.
According to the independent Turkish website kulturservisi.com, although it had initially been announced that – except for the prayer hours – the Hagia Sophia mosaics and frescoes would be in public view, however 21 days after its conversion into mosque, they remain covered.
The same goes for the marble mosaics, which are covered with heavy carpets.
Information from officials of the Ministry of Culture, who are still working in the area of Hagia Sophia, state that there is no official information on when and in what way frescoes and mosaics will be exposed in public view inside the monument.
“It is said that a folding system will be created, but we do not have information on when this system will be made,” the website notes, making known that the upper church gallery (gynakonitis) remains closed to the public.
Source:Protothema.gr