They entered the once-great cathedral, in its desacralized and appropriated state an international symbol of jihadist aggression and Islamic supremacism, and shouted a threat: "Pope, don't make a mistake, don't wear out our patience."
"Protesters occupying building detained," by Benjamin Harvey for Associated Press, with thanks to Twostellas:
ISTANBUL, Turkey - Police on Wednesday detained about 40 members of a Turkish nationalist party who earlier had occupied one of Istanbul's most famous buildings, the Haghia Sophia, to protest the visit next week of Pope Benedict XVI.Posted at November 22, 2006 6:15 PMThe protesters belong to the Great Unity Party, a far right-wing group that has previously staged demonstrations against the planned Nov. 28-Dec. 1 visit.
They entered the 6th century former Byzantine church and mosque, shouting "Allahu akbar!" — "God is great!" — and then knelt to perform Islamic prayers.
They also shouted a warning to Benedict: "Pope, don't make a mistake, don't wear out our patience."
A group leader read a statement saying Benedict had offended Muslims with his comments linking violence and Islam, but the reading was interrupted by police.