Erdoğan visits Hagia Sophia ahead of its reopening as a mosque

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has visited Istanbul's Hagia Sophia ahead of its opening as a mosque on July 24. Erdoğan was accompanied by Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) head Ali Erbaş.

Duvar English

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has visited Istanbul's Hagia Sophia ahead of its opening as a mosque on July 24.

He spent nearly an hour at the site and received information on the works from Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya.

Erdoğan was accompanied by Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) head Ali Erbaş.

On July 10, the Council of State annulled a 1934 Cabinet decree that had turned Hagia Sophia into a museum. Declaring the building a mosque, Erdoğan said prayers would be held there on July 24.

Turkey Hagia Sophia Turkish Süleyman Soylu Turkish government President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Fahrettin Altun
Erdoğan leads in presidential race, outperforms expectations Google excessively recommends pro-government media outlets Half of Turkish men own gun, says foundation THY dismisses pilot for opposing regulation on praying in cockpit Turkey lifts visa requirement for six countries Family left homeless after landlord increases rent by five-fold