“Allahu akbar” means Allah is greater, i.e., greater than your god, and Turks today are making no effort to hide their supremacist delight. “Videos of the Greek dismay were circulated gleefully among the crowd in Istanbul.” This is no surprise, since Hagia Sophia as a mosque from 1453 to 1935 stood as a symbol of the triumph of Islam over Christianity, and of the power of the Ottoman Empire. Erdogan is now positioning himself as a new Mehmet the Conqueror, destroying the monument to secularism that the Hagia Sophia museum has been since 1935, and emulating his illustrious predecessor by converting it to a mosque once again.
With these caliphate dreams come territorial ambitions, about which the Turkish would-be caliph has made no secret. In February 2018, Erdoğan declared: “Those who think that we have erased from our hearts the lands from which we withdrew in tears a hundred years ago are wrong. We say at every opportunity we have that Syria, Iraq and other places in the geography [map] in our hearts are no different from our own homeland. We are struggling so that a foreign flag will not be waved anywhere where adhan [Islamic call to prayer in mosques] is recited. The things we have done so far [pale in comparison to the] even greater attempts and attacks [we are planning for] the coming days, inshallah [Allah willing].”
“Hagia Sophia: Istanbul revels in ‘reconquest’ during first Friday prayer,” by Yusuf Selman Inanc, Middle East Eye, July 24, 2020:
Around 10 am, the crowd in Uskudar, a historic and conservative neighbourhood on Istanbul’s Asian side, was already thronging.
Among the people carrying Turkish flags and Islamic banners and chanting slogans was a man in his 50s, looking around with bewildered eyes.
He had come from France, where he has been living since he was 15.
“As a Turk, it was impossible for me to miss this historic moment. So I came all the way by driving,” he told Middle East Eye.
The man, who concealed his name due to the allegations that the French government has refused to grant citizenship to some Turks over their pro-Turkey social media posts, was not an exception.
The ferry from Uskudar to Eminonu was more crowded than ever, and those disembarking joined a greater mass moving towards Hagia Sophia, the iconic and historic building that was now controversially being reconverted back into a mosque.
Among the masses were thousands of people who had come from Anatolia’s remote areas, as well as from European countries such as Germany, France and Austria that have a considerable Turkish population.
All the streets ending up at Hagia Sophia were full of prayers. Before the Friday sermon started, the prayers, chanted from Hagia Sophia’s minarets, were mixed with slogans.
People were so excited that the police failed to keep them away after the designated prayer areas were full….
“Oh my Lord, praise be upon you. This is like Hajj,” a man shouted. Another agreed with him and said: “I had never seen such a crowd except in Arafat,” in reference to a mountain outside Mecca.
Someone shouted loudly: “Taqbir!” And, the crowd enthusiastically yelled: “Allahu aqbar!”
“24 July, 2020, is the date of the resurrection of this nation,” one man said….
Several historical objects symbolising the conquest were used during the service. The imam, Ali Erbas, head of the Religious Directorate, gave the sermon holding a sword.
On it was written the Quranic verse “Indeed, we have given you, a clear conquest.” It was a line he repeated….
Hundreds of Muslim foreigners, including Somalis, Pakistanis and Syrians, joined the Turks outside in celebration. A group of Somali students waved their country’s flag and chanted slogans….
In Greece, whose people and church lost the Hagia Sophia six centuries ago, churches meanwhile rang their bells in protest at the conversion.
Videos of the Greek dismay were circulated gleefully among the crowd in Istanbul.
J Morgan says
I am with the Greeks. My bells are ringing. How’s that interfaith dialogue going, Pope? I didn’t hear his response to Erdogan’s invitation, yet it seems he is not there in Turkey today. Silence.
SAFI says
He wasn’t? Such a shame he missed the opportunity to scream Allahu Akbar while his sword wielding interfaith brother Ali Erbas recited the “conquest verse” from the Holy Quran
Speak The Truth says
https://wallpapercave.com/dome-of-the-rock-wallpapers
This is the new Hagia Sofia Church.
gravenimage says
What claptrap.
FYI says
Those butt in the air boys in the above picture,in their fraudulent islamic piety,won’t get any of this:but you see the One who will be Judging them will be the One to whom that church is dedicated:Jesus Christ the HAGIA SOPHIA[Divine Wisdom]
The church they STOLE from Jesus Christ.It was dedicated after all to Jesus Christ..the Hagia Sophia.
And He is JEWISH.{John 4 v 22 }
The muslims STOLE HIS CHURCH and they are ‘praying’ to a false god because it isn’t allah who will judge their muslim souls;it is Jesus Christ the Hagia Sophia.
Oh -and it appears they are ‘praying’ in PUBLIC:what would their demon god allah[allah khayru i makireena,allah the champion deceiver koran 3:54} say about that?
{Their islamic ‘prayers’ are of course completely worthless}
Let me just check their ‘holy’ koran the book muslims never actually read…
“Lo! the HYPOCRITES seek to beguile allah but it is he who beguileth them.
When they stand up to worship they perform it languidly and TO BE SEEN OF MEN and are mindful of allah but little”
Koran 4:142
So allah calls muslims who ‘pray’ so that everybody will see them HYPOCRITES.
Isn’t praying in PUBLIC done in order to be ‘seen of men’ so everyone will see how holy these frauds are?And what does allah call them,his muslims who do that?
HYPOCRITES
But muslims don’t get Irony or Logic:allah has not given them such necessary reasoning faculties.
J Morgan says
They will all be judged out of The Book of Life and all their public praying will not win them favor with God. “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” Matthew 6:1
Westman says
Erdogan is leading an Iranian-like revolution v2.0. Too many Iranians couldn’t be comfortable running their own lives while watching the success of those who could; which led to the Islamic “revolution” of aggression. Now we see the same “back to Islam” being repeated in Turkey. Too many Turks are looking for someone to direct their lives and Erdogan has designs to be their “Ayatollah”.
The same sequence is playing out in the US where those without a foundation for life, jealous of those who do and succeed, are turning to Marxism as a religion.
J Morgan says
Astute observations, Westman. The democrats/ Marxists don’t want nuclear families, especially ones that live in a house. Jealousy much?
James Lincoln says
Westman says,
“The same sequence is playing out in the US where those without a foundation for life, jealous of those who do and succeed, are turning to Marxism as a religion.”
As the United States loses its Judeo-Christian values, something else always fills the void.
Recent college grads who majored in “liberal arts” have a triple whammy:
1. Large college debt.
2. Few marketable skills in today’s economy.
3. Leftist indoctrination.
Marxism definitely fills the void – especially as they watch the STEM majors get good jobs, pay off their debt, get married, have children, buy cars / houses, contribute to their 401(k), etc.
As an aside, I’ve also run across a few “militant” type vegans – not regular type people who embrace whole food plant-based diets…
Jaydam says
Surely huge numbers of Muslims gathering in one area can only be a good thing right!
Take for example a dozen towns in England in the last 2 weeks, that have seen a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases, and new lockdowns will be re-introduced any day now.
What do these towns and citys have in common, you may ask.
They are all populated with huge numbers of Muslims.
Charlie in NY says
Remind me what it was that President Obama learned from Erdogan that made him his “go to” guy on Middle East issues, and somehow always to Israel’s detriment.
CogitoErgoSum says
That picture at the top is of a people turning their backs to Christ and bowing to the god of all that is evil. Be thankful if you are not one of them.
Jaydam says
+1
FYI says
Yes they ‘pray’ to allah their demonic islamic god whose greatest enemy is a MAN called “the king of kings”
The god who CURSES Christians for believing in Jesus Christ {koran 9:30}
The god who MISSED the Golden Rule and who has a Doctrine of HATE[al walaa wal baraa]
A god who is clearly EVIL like their ‘prophet’ muhammed was evil.
“The messenger of allah said ‘ the most hated of men before allah on the day of resurrection and the most wretched and the man most hated to him will be a MAN called MALIK AL AMLAK for there is no king but allah”
Sahih Muslim vol 5 hadith #5611
This is authentic{SAHIH}.
allah the greatest of deceiver’s k3:54 greatest enemy= a MAN called “the King Of Kings”
{muslims won’t figure it out:unless they are lucky to see it of course ,which would be good}
And who is this MAN called the “king of kings”?
Why, that would be Jesus Christ the HAGIA SOPHIA{=’the king of kings’ Revs 19:16}
So we see who erdolf and his muslims ‘pray’ to:and such ‘prayers’ are worthless of course.
They are evil like their god allah,their false prophet muhammed and false scripture the koran.
And guess who will be judging their evil souls?
Jesus Christ the HAGIA SOPHIA AKA Jesus Christ the ‘king of kings’:’allah’s’ greatest enemy.
Lorna Denton says
Well said, truth indeed. Jesus is coming soon and in judgement. I cant wait.
gravenimage says
No one should assume this is immanent, Lorna.
john smith says
I agree with you 100% but they don’t see it. How can they be so blind?
Rolf Wittwer says
They “enjoy” to bring down and eliminating of Christians worldwide in shocking ways.
It’s pure hate. Look around the world: Africa, Asia (especially <india, Pakistan) America, Canada, NZ,Australia, Europe – everywher everything is going down. Violent Terrorgroups spreading around…!
Every times – damaged, vandalised, burning down of churches and according installations etc.- they are targeted and aimed to be destroyed by members of the "Religion of peace".
We must wake up – it becomes more and more important!!!
Lorna Denton says
Indeed. End of times. Jesus said pray to God to low you to pass through these teying times. For they will be times like none other on earth and never will be again. Armaggedon will be upon us soon. We must prepare, mentally phyically.
Martin says
HAGIA SOPHIA – JULY 24 2020 – Turkish Diyanet head: Sermons with swords ‘traditional’
Muslim Friday sermons delivered bearing sword for over 4 centuries, says head of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate
Turkey’s religious chief on Friday explained that swords were traditionally held during religious sermons delivered at weekly Muslim prayers as a symbol of conquest.
After leading the Friday prayer at the Hagia Sophia Mosque — the first prayer following its reversion to being a place of Muslim worship — Ali Erbas told reporters: “Khutbahs [Friday sermons] had been delivered with a sword, without interruption, for 481 years. If Allah permits, we will resume this tradition from now on.”
[…]
www(dot)aa(dot)com(dot)tr/en/turkey/turkish-diyanet-head-sermons-with-swords-traditional/1921608
=======================================================
Top Imam Ali Erbas climbed up staircase of Hagia Sophia’s pulpit with Ottoman sword
[…]the controversial Directorate of Religious Affairs of Turkey, used an Ottoman sword to climb up the staircase of the pulpit of Hagia Sophia.[…]
twitter(dot)com/abdbozkurt/status/1286618077724123137
orthodoxtimes(dot)com/top-imam-ali-erbas-climbed-up-staircase-of-hagia-sophias-pulpit-with-ottoman-sword/
=======================================================
Sermons with swords part of Turkey’s tradition, head of Diyanet says
Turkey’s religious chief on Friday explained that swords were traditionally held during religious sermons delivered at weekly Muslim prayers as a symbol of conquest.
[…]
www(dot)dailysabah(dot)com/politics/sermons-with-swords-part-of-turkeys-tradition-head-of-diyanet-says/news
===========================================
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs6c1OzX000
gravenimage says
Of course these thugs brandishing swords is “traditional”.
The Hadith says that Islam is “under the shade of swords”.
Martin says
Greek protesters burn Turkish flags decrying Hagia Sophia’s reconversion to mosque
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khi5WYItXx8
Rufolino says
Thank God somebody is expressing anger about this !
I love Iblis says
They are endangering the lives of Christians in Turkey by burning a Turkish flag. I think those who have did that are malicious people. Even if they are not, they are not mentally healthy. If a church attack occurs in Turkey, both those who burned that Turkish flag and the fascist government of Turkey are responsible for that attack.
SAFI says
If a church attack occurs in Turkey, both those who burned that Turkish flag and the fascist government of Turkey are responsible for that attack.
No, if such attacks occur those primarilly responsible will be both “the fascist govt of Turkey” and the fascist populace of Turkey who’s ready to grab any excuse to unleash another pogrom against christians like they’ve done numerous times before
gravenimage says
Oh, good lord. Right–if Muslims are violent, it must be the fault of Christians protesting peacefully.
Don’t say anything critical about Muslims–or it is your fault if they murder you.
This is what Muslims are taught–and even many of those who left the creed seem to still believe it.
I love Iblis says
Burning a flag is not a peaceful protest. Burning a flag is provoking the people of the country whose flag is burned. I’m trying to think rationally. I wonder if those fascists who burned that Turkish flag are caring about well-being of Christians in Turkey. I think they are not true Christians. Saint Paul of Tarsus gave Christians advice that they should obey and respect the governors and rulers of their countries. So a Christian who lives in Turkey should obey and respect the State. But those fascists who burned that Turkish flag are making this duty harder for Christians in Turkey.
gravenimage says
I love Iblis, this protest was non-violent.
Morons burn the US flag all the time–we don’t respond by murdering people of those nationalities.
And Greece is *not* a Muslim country–saying that we cannot engage in freedom of speech even in civilized Infidel nations is enforcing Shari’ah. And no–Greeks are not making anything harder for Christians in Turkey–actions in Greece have nothing to do with Turkey.
And if you think we have to appease Muslims by not burning flags so they won’t be violent against us, what other acts of appeasement will you demand?
What if Muslims said they intended to murder non-Muslims if Jihad Watch is not shut down? Would you consider Robert Spencer “malicious” and a “fascist” if he didn’t immediately roll over for this demand?
Martin says
Turkey decries burning of its flag in Greece
Greek authorities ‘provoked public, allowed burning of Turkish flag’ on return of Hagia Sophia as mosque: Foreign Ministry
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry slammed Saturday that Greek authorities “provoked public and allowed burning of Turkish flag in Thessaloniki” over reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
“We strongly condemn hostile statements made by members of the Greek Government and Parliament provoking the public opinion and allowing the burning of our glorious flag in Thessaloniki,” Hami Aksoy, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, said in a written statement.
[…]He said “the spoiled children of Europe”, who cannot accept the reopening of the iconic architecture as a mosque, were “delirious” again.
“These racist mindsets, who have not drawn the required lessons from history, those who disrespect our glorious flag should remember their fate in the Aegean,” Aksoy stressed.
[…]“No country can teach Turkey about exercising her national sovereignty,” he warned.
[…] those who hung the Byzantine flag next to the Greek flag on Friday and declared mourning cannot disrespect our flag.
www(dot)aa.com(dot)tr/en/politics/turkey-decries-burning-of-its-flag-in-greece/1921855
======================================================
Ankara condemns statements by Greek officials, burning of Turkish flag
[…]”Greece showed once again its enmity towards Islam and Turkey with the excuse of reacting to Hagia Sophia Mosque being opened to prayers,” ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a written statement.
[…]“Greece should, from now on, wake up from the Byzantine dream that she has been unable to wake up for 567 years and get rid of her frustration emanating from it,” Aksoy said.
[…]He added that the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, like other cultural assets on the Turkish lands, belongs to Turkey, and said: “… it will be in our possession and protection forever.”
www(dot)hurriyetdailynews(dot)com/ankara-condemns-statements-of-greek-officials-and-burning-of-turkish-flag-156854
======================================================
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv-RrrT3eKc
gravenimage says
So now Muslims are claiming that not wanting Muslims to seize your Churches and turn them into Mosques is somehow “racist”?
Martin says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMHPiejqHvM
tim gallagher says
Muslims will always be celebrating any damage they can do to Christianity and any other non-Muslim belief system. Muslims are always our enemy, always have been and always will be. When it comes to islam, it is definitely them or us. It is a useless exercise trying to get along with islam and its adherents. Islam is a very clear enemy of all our values. Maybe even the present Pope and his dopey advisors might wake up to the basic fact that islam is a very clear and perennial enemy of Christianity one day, although I have my doubts. He seems to inhabit some other planet when it comes to Islam’s vile nature..
gravenimage says
Turkey: Thousands of Muslims screaming ‘Allahu akbar’ celebrate ‘reconquest’ of Hagia Sophia
………………..
Of course this act of aggression has just emboldened these thugs.
More:
Among the people carrying Turkish flags and Islamic banners and chanting slogans was a man in his 50s, looking around with bewildered eyes.
He had come from France, where he has been living since he was 15.
“As a Turk, it was impossible for me to miss this historic moment. So I came all the way by driving,” he told Middle East Eye.
………………..
Clearly this Muslim does *not* consider himself to be French. Will he and those like him be celebrating turning Notre Dame into a Mosque?
Eur says
then when Muslims come to the West they say that you can be Muslim and French, Muslim and Spanish, Muslim and British … it is ridiculous because they use Islam as an identity feeling and as nationalism, and that means that they hardly have other cultural marks. Any immigrant who comes to the West has dances, folklore, gastronomy … but Muslims except for gastronomy have absolutely nothing, only religion. Although they come from the poorest village in Bolivia, Kenya, China … any non-Muslim immigrant contributes much more culturally than the Turkish Muslims, Maghrebs, Pakistanis … You have to start saying things as they are. sad and disgusting.
gravenimage says
Exactly, Eur.
tim gallagher says
gravenimage, I think that the one and only identity, the one and only loyalty of pretty well all Muslims, is to Islam. Their only goal in life is to try to help Islam conquer the world. Almost all Muslims, probably all Muslims, would want all the churches in France or the USA or Australia to be turned into mosques. There’s that banner, often shown here at Jihad Watch, held up by some Muslim, saying “Islam will dominate the world”, which says it all about Muslims’ ambitions.
gravenimage says
Yes, Tim–their only loyalty is to the Ummah.
SHRAVAN KUMAR K says
Treaty of Lausanne validity ends on 2023
And Erdogan has his Vision Turkey 2023….He wants to restart an Ottoman empire 2.0, may be that’s thecreadon why he invaded & conquered Northern Syria, Now invaded an Libyan city of Tripoli
Proposal for Unification & Merger of Azerbaijan and other Turkic countries?????????? with ?? Turkey
As Former Soviet states Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan are Ethnic Turkish countries and wanted to unify & get merged with Turkey
SAFI says
Sorry but that first sentence is obvious BS made up by turkish nationalists. And it’s not even very original, similar nonsense if often said of other treaties. For example I’d seen some Hungarian nationalists claiming that the treaty of Trianon would supposedly be “expiring” in 2020 (specifically about a month ago) Of course there’s no “expiration date” to the Treay of Lausanne (or most other treaties) it will only become invalid if it’s superceded by a new treaty.
“Vision 2023” is real though, Erdolf has big plans for his sultanate in the coming years (and yes he’s openly proclaimed that he wants to revise the treaty of Lausanne)
gravenimage says
SHRAVAN KUMAR K wrote:
Treaty of Lausanne validity ends on 2023
………………..
SAFI is right–the Treaty of Lausanne has no secret expiration date. Here are some of the conspiracy theories circulating in Turkey–that British troops will reoccupy forts along the Bosphorus, and the Greek Orthodox patriarch will resurrect a Byzantine ministate within Istanbul’s city walls.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/10/02/notes-on-a-turkish-conspiracy/
Of course, this is all bs–but it suits Erdogan’s paranoia. He seeks revisions to the Treaty of Lausanne, especially being able to seize the Aegean islands from Greece.
And it is the Islamic State, not Turkey, which has invaded Tripoli.
But SHRAVAN KUMAR K is quite right about Erdogan wanting to found a new Caliphate:
“Erdogan: ‘Resurrection of Hagia Sophia’ heralds ‘return of freedom to al-Aqsa,’ revival of Islam Uzbekistan to Spain”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2020/07/erdogan-resurrection-of-hagia-sophia-heralds-return-of-freedom-to-al-aqsa-revival-of-islam-uzbekistan-to-spain
PLD GUY says
It’s just part of the celebration of Islam’s conquest of another christian icon.
When will the political leaders the Pope and other Christian leaders recognize the danger of the islamic threat to the free world?
Look what is already happening in the EU. with the muslim violence and no-go zones. Same thing is beginning to take place in the U.S.A. Canada and all around the world.
Remember World War Two started with Hitlers NAZI super race ideology with the termination of all Jewish people and anyone else it deemed unfit. The Muslim Islamic ideology is almost exactly the same, terminate the Jewish population and enslave or kill all others that don’t bow down to their dictatorship rule.
Jan O Hellsund says
How soon before the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem is re-dedicated as the Third Temple of Solomon? Hagia Sophia is in Turkey – fair enough, but Al Aqsa is in Israel.