Both the Council of Europe and UNESCO have taken up the matter of the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a Mosque. This is fine and well for people who want to make themselves feel good, but in terms of actually reversing the conversion it is hard to see how this will have any positive effect. The move to make Hagia Sophia a Mosque began in 2013 when the Church-Museum of Hagia Sophia of Trebizond was converted.
Turkish intentions were declared by various politicians and in 2016 Koranic prayers were said in Hagia Sophia during the month of fasting for Ramadan. The evidence that the Erdogan government was going to make Hagia Sophia was further displayed by the conversion of two further Church-Museums named Hagia Sophia in Iznik and Edirne. This blogger on numerous occasions contacted UNESCO to urge them to intervene (see the previous post for details).
Former Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis was happy that the Council of Europe took up the issue. At this point, criticism of Turkey is welcome but it would have been more welcome before the conversion occurred. UNESCO is trying to claim some moral high ground in a pathetic statement it released citing its actions last July 20. What about the seven years before that?
Criticism of Turkey had its strongest bite through the criticism of the Russian Orthodox Church to the conversion of Hagia Sophia. The Russians correctly viewed Hagia Sophia from a spiritual point of view and as the source that led to the conversion of the Russians to Christianity. The rest of the Orthodox world condemned the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a Mosque.
Support for Hagia Sophia even at this late date is welcome. The question remains what exactly are UNESCO and the Council of Europe plan to do? Are they going to take substantive action or is this a lot of hot air? We shall see.
One reply on “Hagia Sophia Diaries 19”
At this point all we can do regarding the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a Mosque is make it known to EU and US foreign policy sources and hope it is taken into account in the general consideration of EU/US relations with Turkey. Erdogan is really our best card to play, he has alienated many of the foreign policy Elites around the world with his maximalist ideology and unpredictable ways. The longer he stays in power the better it is for us. A shrewd Kemalist leader of Turkey could do a lot of damage in the region with respect to Greece and Cyprus, Erdogan is a bull in a China shop. And he is wrecking Turkey’s economy as well.