Position of foreign States regarding the conversion of Hagia Sophia from Museum to mosque will not affect the decision of Ankara, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In Turkey regard the claims of other countries on this issue as interference in the internal Affairs of the Republic. According to experts, such step is dictated not so much religious as to political motives. It stands for the desire of the authorities to divert people’s attention from the difficult economic situation, as well as the desire to demonstrate the independence of Ankara on the world stage, analysts say.
Position of foreign States for the return of Hagia Sophia mosque status could not affect the decision of Ankara, it was stated by the President of the Turkish Republic Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a video message during the opening of the bridge in the province of Siirt.
“Turkey took the decision to change the status of Hagia Sophia from Museum to mosque, based on the desire and the will of the people. The opinion of other countries could not affect our decision,” — said the Turkish leader.
The politician added that the country will continue to move the right way to “build a great and strong Turkey.”
The Church of Hagia Sophia, around the status of which in recent days turned to the international discussion, was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian the Great between 532 and 537 years. As a Christian Cathedral, the building has existed for over 11 centuries. After the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople, the Church was converted into a mosque and remained in this status for another five centuries. In 1934 by the decision of the founder of the modern Turkish Republic of Kemal Ataturk, the temple became a Museum.
“Symbol of civilization”
July 10, 2020 the Turkish Council of State reversed the decision almost a century ago, stressing that in the state register of Hagia Sophia was still listed as a mosque. The object belongs to Fund of a name of Sultan Mehmet Khan, the documentation which stated that the former Museum can be used only as a mosque.
On the same day the President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree to open the Cathedral for the administration of the Islamic religious rites.
With the Turkish President stressed that the doors of the mosque will be open to all, including foreigners and members of other religions. Entrance fees, pre-existing, canceled. To act as a mosque, the Cathedral will start on July 24 after preparations.
“the Hagia Sophia is Turkey’s jurisdiction. Any objections regarding the decisions of our judiciary will be considered as violation of our sovereignty”, — said Erdogan.
The politician also compared the Hagia Sophia with one of the key Islamic shrines — the al-Aqsa mosque, which is run by the government of Israel.
“the revival of the Hagia Sophia is a harbinger of the liberation of al-Aqsa mosque,” added Erdogan.
The head of the Department of religious Affairs of Turkey Ali Erbas has already welcomed the decision of the authorities of the country. Commenting on the event, the leader of the Turkish Muslims noted the special role of the Cathedral.
“the Hagia Sophia is not a simple temple with the point of view of its value. It is a symbol of great faith, civilization, morality and justice to Muslims,” — said in a statement published on the website of the office.
Step of the Turkish authorities has caused the approval of much of the political circles of the Republic. Even the Kemalist opposition Republican people’s party refrained from sharp criticism of the decision. The party just reminded that Hagia Sophia is part of the historical heritage of all mankind, so the conversion from the Museum to the mosque should work without compromising the architectural appearance of the Cathedral.
According to the Director of the Center for the study of new Turkey Yuri Mavashev, Turkish politicians have supported the decision of the ruling party in the first place because of the criticism, which is now on the part of foreign countries in Ankara.
“the Turks perceived foreign criticism of the decisions of Hagia Sophia as interference in the sovereign Affairs of the Republic, and therefore supported the authorities. But initially the population was not consensus on this issue. The idea of turning Sofia into a mosque typically support low-educated segments of the population, while urban residents are always evaluated these plans with skepticism,” — said the expert in an interview with RT.
Speaking about the reasons that led the authorities to take this step, the expert reminded about the economic crisis, which affected Turkey. In may, the national currency has fallen to unprecedented values, and pandemic coronavirus hurt the tourism industry.
“the Turkish President wants to draw the attention of the Turkish people for the return of Hagia Sophia mosque status to show that it is more important than shaky rating of the ruling Party of justice and development and problems with the Lira exchange rate. He needs to political and moral recovery,” — said the expert.
In addition, the solution according to Hagia Sophia should serve as the idea for Erdogan to go down in history of Turkey as a major political figure.
“we are Talking about the concept of “New Turkey” (Tur. Yeni Türkiye) — so Recep Tayyip erdoğan and his supporters call the current Republican period. In a strict sense, his neo-Ottoman vision to call this course with many reservations. I would say that it is rather the use of certain historical memories, the game’s Imperial passion,” said Yuri Mavashev.
A similar view is shared by associate Professor of the Institute of social Sciences of Ranepa orientalist Sergei Demidenko.
“The decision of the Turkish leadership is closely related to the economic crisis, the collapse of the Lira. The Turkish economy went into a fairly steep dive, because it is heavily dependent on external capital, which, in turn, to the 2012-2013 year began to decrease. Today Erdogan is the foreign policy successes, but domestic almost no. Therefore, the economic loss the government is trying to compensate for some of the foreign conquests and similar initiatives”, — the expert said in comments to RT.
“slap in the face of world Christianity”
The decision of Ankara was summoned to the world a mixed reaction. The United Nations educational, scientific and cultural organization (UNESCO) stated that the status change Hagia Sophia illegal without coordination with the world heritage Committee.
Regret the decision of Ankara was summoned in Moscow, this was stated by Deputy foreign Minister Alexander Grushko. The diplomat added that Moscow is counting on the full implementation of the Ankara of its obligations under the security and availability of this object.
In much harsher language for the step of the Turkish authorities commented on in the Russian Orthodox Church. Chairman of the Synodal Department for external Church relations (DECR) of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) called Ankara’s move “a slap in the face to the entire world of Christianity.”
“it is a Pity that the political situation takes precedence over respect for other religious traditions,” he said.
The decision of the Turkish leadership has caused quite a cool reaction from Washington — earlier, the head of the state Department Mike Pompeo called on the Turkish side to retain the Cathedral of the city.
A similar view is shared by the official Brussels.
“it is regrettable the decision of the State Council of Turkey on the abolition of one of the most significant decisions of modern Turkey and the decision of President Erdogan on the transfer of the historical monument at the disposal of the office for religious Affairs,” the statement said Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy.
The sharpest reaction came from Athens. As explained by the head of the Greek foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in an interview with Skai, Recep Tayyip Erdogan in its decision “turns away from the international community and its rules.”
At the same time in the Islamic world, Ankara’s decision raised some discrepancies, says Yuri Mavashev.
“Most clearly Turkey has supported Pakistan and Qatar. At the same time, Erdogan has put in the uncomfortable position of his opponents in the face of the leadership of several Arab countries — Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Oman and others. For political reasons they don’t want to support Ankara, but many of their citizens perceive Turkey as a revenge for the Islamic world�� over the collective West,” he said.
Speaking about why Ankara did not listen to the views of such major global players as the US, EU and Russia, as well as to the position of UNESCO, Sergey Demidenko recalled that the Turkish leader has long advocated the idea of a completely self-sufficient Turkey.
“For him, Turkey is a country, which independently applies to Russia and Iran, is not adjusted to the NATO and the USA. Erdogan plays the card of a tough political leader, is positioning himself as the father of the Turkish nation. And although it will not solve internal problems of Turkey in the international arena, such a move will represent Ankara as an independent player, whose opinion should be considered”, — concluded the expert.
