Erdoğan recites the Quran at Hagia Sophia

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has recited Quran in Hagia Sophia, marking its opening as a mosque on July 24. An imam began the formal prayer service at 1.45 pm, after Erdoğan read out a Quranic recitation and the call to prayer rang out from the mosque's minarets.

Duvar English

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has recited the Quran at Hagia Sophia, marking its opening as a mosque on July 24.

Erdoğan and his top ministers, wearing white facemasks as a precaution against COVID-19, knelt on blue carpets at the start of a ceremony which marks the return of Muslim worship to the ancient structure.

An imam began the formal prayer service at 1.45 pm, after Erdoğan read out a Quranic recitation and the call to prayer rang out from the mosque's minarets.

The call to prayer was followed by Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) head Ali Erbaş giving a sermon.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan poses for a photo with his wife Emine Erdoğan during his visit to inspect Hagia Sophia ahead of its opening.
Topics Turkey Hagia Sophia Turkish Turkish politics President Erdoğan President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan