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EU Foreign Ministers Condemn Turkey's Decision to Convert Hagia Sophia to Mosque

© AFP 2023 / OZAN KOSEA picture taken on July 11, 2020 shows police fences set up around Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, a day after a top Turkish court revoked the sixth-century Hagia Sophia's status as a museum, clearing the way for it to be turned back into a mosque. - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on July 11 rejected worldwide condemnation over Turkey's decision to convert the Byzantine-era monument Hagia Sophia back into a mosque, saying it represented his country's will to use its "sovereign rights".
A picture taken on July 11, 2020 shows police fences set up around Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, a day after a top Turkish court revoked the sixth-century Hagia Sophia's status as a museum, clearing the way for it to be turned back into a mosque. - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on July 11 rejected worldwide condemnation over Turkey's decision to convert the Byzantine-era monument Hagia Sophia back into a mosque, saying it represented his country's will to use its sovereign rights.  - Sputnik International
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - EU foreign ministers condemn Turkey's decision to convert Hagia Sophia from a museum back into a mosque, as it may fuel mistrust between religious communities, European Union Minister for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said Monday.
"An important issue was about Hagia Sophia. The council has condemned Turkey's decision to convert such an emblematic monument as Hagia Sophia back to a mosque. This decision will inevitably fuel mistrust, promote renewed division between religious communities and undermine our efforts at dialogue and cooperation", Borrell told a press conference.

The EU foreign ministers have supported the idea to call on Turkey to "urgently reconsider and reverse this decision", Borrell said.

Hagia Sophia Converted to Mosque

Turkey's highest administrative court on Friday annulled a 1934 decree, which initially made the Hagia Sophia into a museum. This decision means that the site can now be used as a mosque, and a presidential decree was signed opening the Hagia Sophia for Muslim prayers.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul - Sputnik International
Moscow Sees Decision to Convert Hagia Sophia Into Mosque as Turkey's Domestic Matter

President Erdogan said on Saturday that the decision will help continue to build a strong and mighty Turkey.

The ruling to convert the site in Istanbul into a mosque has been met with strong criticism from religious and political leaders across the world. The Russian Orthodox Church and the head of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis have expressed their regret at the decision.

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