Hagia Sophia

The three countries have pointed to the world heritage status of the Hagia Sophia.

Ahead of Council of State’s decision on whether Hagia Sophia shall be retained as a museum or converted back into a mosque, US Secretary of State has urged Turkey to keep it as a museum. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry has slammed the statement.

The old debate on the status of Hagia Sophia has heated up recently, after a Quran session on the anniversary of the Ottoman Empire's capture of İstanbul and remarks by top government officials.

Responding the calls to revert the Hagia Sophia to a mosque, President Erdoğan first said, "Fill the Sultanahmet Mosque first," then "I won't be played like this." Finally, he said last night that they may change Hagia Sophia's status from a museum to a mosque.

Addressing to the parliament, HDP MP Garo Paylan has asked about the Hagia Sophia Church in Trabzon being destroyed and turned into a mosque