The archbishop is right. The conversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque is for Erdogan a symbol of Islam’s triumph over secularism, just as its conversion to a museum in 1935 was a symbol of secularism’s triumph over Islam, and its original conversion to a mosque in 1453 was a symbol of Islam’s triumph over […]
Search Results for: hagia sophia
Turkey: Religious Affairs top dog says ‘the goal’ is for Hagia Sophia to become a center of knowledge about Islam
The conversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque is for Erdogan and Ali Erbas a symbol of Islam’s triumph over secularism, just as its conversion to a museum in 1935 was a symbol of secularism’s triumph over Islam, and its original conversion to a mosque in 1453 was a symbol of Islam’s triumph over Christianity. […]
Turkey: Nine Churches Named Hagia Sophia Have Now Been Converted to Mosques
Much of the international community has been shocked by the news concerning Turkey’s conversion of two historic Hagia Sophia churches into mosques in Istanbul and Trabzon. The famous Hagia Sophia museum in Istanbul was originally founded as a Greek Orthodox cathedral in the sixth century CE. It was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman […]
Turkey demolishes iconic church, ‘Hagia Sophia of Bursa’
Bursa is the fourth largest city in Turkey. In 2013, the building was handed over to an Islamic foundation, which left it to rot. Now that it has been razed to the ground, it will be rebuilt as a cultural center. Turkey’s brazen contempt for Christianity in destroying or appropriating iconic churches, especially Hagia Sophia […]
Turkey’s economy plunges as tourists stay away after conversion of Hagia Sophia, Chora church to mosques
“A gesture to Muslims is [a] much more immediate [political gain] and preferable and the [gains from the] touristic side of Hagia Sophia can be negligible,” Sonmez argued. “That’s why he didn’t take it into consideration.” That is, the benefits of asserting Islam’s superiority over both secularism and Christianity outweighed for Erdogan any economic considerations. […]
Turkey’s appropriation of Chora church after Hagia Sophia shows Pope’s human fraternity document a massive failure
Here is the full statement I sent to Church Militant: The “Document on Human Fraternity” that Pope Francis signed with the Sheikh of al-Azhar, Ahmed al-Tayeb, and is now aggressively pushing upon the Catholic Church, states that “the protection of places of worship – synagogues, churches and mosques – is a duty guaranteed by religions, […]
Video: Robert Spencer on Hagia Sophia; Biden and the Coronavirus; and more
A wide-ranging interview with ex-Muslim Steve Mashni, streamed on Tuesday.
Turkey: Muslims screaming ‘Allahu akbar’ unfurl Taliban flag inside Hagia Sophia
Erdogan’s conversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque has encouraged and emboldened Islamic supremacists and jihadists around the world. #AfghanTaliban flag was raised in #HagiaSophia, #Turkey by pro #Taliban activists. The conversion of Hagia Sophia was a motivational message of #MuslimBrotherhood to the world’s Islamist #extremists and #terrorists. Soon, pro #ISIS activists will raise their […]
Muslim prof: ‘Conversion of Hagia Sophia has handed right-wingers an excuse and impetus to demonise Islam’
Shahid A Abbasi is Emeritus Professor at Pondicherry University in India. In this article, he hits on the real why Erdogan should not have converted Hagia Sophia to a mosque. Not out of respect for the Christians of Turkey and for the country’s Christian heritage. Not to demonstrate his commitment to Kemalist secularism. Not because […]
Iranian official defends Hagia Sophia change, says Christians ‘turned all the museums in the world into churches’
When the historical facts don’t fit your narrative, change the historical facts. After all, Muhammad said “War is deceit.” So why not? “Christians’ ancestors converted all museums to churches,” Mehr News Agency, August 2, 2020: TEHRAN, Aug. 02 (MNA) – Top Adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution for International Affairs said westerners criticize […]
Syrian Regime Emphasizes Its Protection of Christians By Building Miniature Hagia Sophia
The story is here: The Syrian regime under President Bashar Al-Assad has announced that it will build a miniature replica of the Hagia Sophia, in opposition to the Turkish government’s reversion of the building from a museum into a mosque. “The construction of this mini Hagia Sophia, taking place in the central province of Hama, […]
In slap at Turkey, Syrian government to build replica of Hagia Sophia with help from Russia
This move further highlights the new formations of strategic alliances in the Middle East. It is sure to infuriate and humiliate Turkey, which has been bursting with pride over its new “conquest” of Hagia Sophia, which was first built in 537 as a Christian cathedral. The reconversion of this Christian jewel into a mosque grieved […]
Turkish magazine calls for revival of caliphate in wake of Hagia Sophia conversion to mosque
As I wrote here just a few days ago: “Erdogan is now positioning himself as yet another Mehmet the Conqueror, using Hagia Sophia as his illustrious predecessor did to proclaim Islam’s victory over both Christianity and Ataturk’s secularism. And with the centerpiece of the caliphate now again secured, the caliphate itself is virtually certain to […]
How a Turkish Journalist Sees the Transformation of Hagia Sophia
Memri.org has published here the summary of a debate between Syrian political analyst and a Turkish journalist, on the turning of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, followed by a transcript of excerpts from their debate. Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) aired a debate about Turkey’s recent decision to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque. Syrian political analyst […]
Turkey: By opposing Hagia Sophia conversion, ‘Greece showed once again its enmity towards Islam’
The conversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque was an act of cultural aggression against Greece and Orthodox Christians worldwide. It was a declaration of the victory of Islam over Christianity and the supremacy of Islam. It was also a tacit declaration of war against all the countries that once were part of the Ottoman […]
Muslims Scream ‘Allahu Akbar’ as Hagia Sophia Officially Becomes a Mosque
My latest at PJ Media: Hagia Sophia, the foremost cathedral in the entire Christian world for nearly a thousand years, officially became a mosque today, and the party is on in Istanbul. According to Middle East Eye, there was a festive atmosphere as thousands of Turks thronged to the city to take part in the […]
UAE ruler demands ‘the return of the Mosque of Córdoba’ after Hagia Sophia conversion
The demands will never stop. And when one bows to intimidation, one will only get more intimidation. But no one realizes that in the West these days. “Muslims Claim Córdoba Cathedral,” by Jules Gomes, ChurchMilitant.com, July 24, 2020: ROME (ChurchMilitant.com) – The ruler of Sharjah — the third largest and third most populous city in […]
Turkey’s religious affairs chief brandishes sword during first Hagia Sophia sermon, “Hagia Sophia: Sign of conquest”
“Hagia Sophia: Sign of conquest, our trust in Fati̇h (Sultan Mehmet).” The Turks are making no secret of what the conversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque means. What is coming should be clear to everyone, but isn’t: in February 2018, Erdoğan declared his desire to reconquer the lands the Ottoman caliphate once ruled: “Those […]
Turkey: Thousands of Muslims screaming ‘Allahu akbar’ celebrate ‘reconquest’ of Hagia Sophia
“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 […]
After Hagia Sophia, Muslim Ruler Wonders, Why Not the Cordoba Cathedral?
The ruler of Sharjah, among the lesser of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, has apparently been so impressed with Turkish President Erdogan’s turning Hagia Sophia from a museum into a mosque that he has “demanded” – not asked, but demanded – that the cathedral in Cordoba be turned again into a mosque. […]