ISTANBUL (TURKEY) – President Tayyip Erdogan along with thousands of worshippers attended the first prayers at Hagia Sophia on Friday ever since it was declared a mosque. The monument is sacred to both Christians and Muslims.
Wearing white facemasks, Erdogan and his top ministers knelt on blue carpets during the prayers which symbolised the return of Islamic worship to the monument, which served as a cathedral during the Byzantine era.
At 1.45 pm (1045 GMT), an Imam began the prayers after Erdogan read out a passage from the Koran and the call to prayer rang out from the minarets.
Police maintained security as crowds gathered at checkpoints. In the secured area, worshippers with face masks sat on prayer mats maintaining social distancing in Sultanahmet Square.
“We are ending our 86 years of longing today,” said Sait Colak. “Thanks to our president and the court decision today we are going to have our Friday prayers in Hagia Sophia.”
A top Turkish court earlier this month had annulled the monument’s status as a museum.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field
