PodcastAfter turning Hagia Sophia, Chora into mosques, Turkish gov't looking to promote churches, synagogues
After converting the Hagia Sophia and Chora Museum into mosques, the Turkish government is now preparing to promote the country's churches and synagogues in an attempt to polish its tarnished image. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan instructed his executives to have a publicity booklet prepared describing Turkey's churches and synagogues, daily Hürriyet reported.
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After converting Istanbul's iconic Hagia Sophia and Chora Museum into mosques, the Turkish government is now trying to polish its image by launching a work with regards to the 435 churches and synagogues located in the country.
Istanbul's Chora Museum to open for Muslim prayers following Hagia SophiaPresident Recep Tayyip Erdoğan instructed his executives to have a publicity booklet prepared describing the country's churches and synagogues. The instruction came during the ruling Justice and Development's (AKP) most recent Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting, said daily Hürriyet on Aug. 28.
This publicity booklet will then be given to representatives of foreign missions, AKP executives, mayors and AKP provincial heads. The booklet will explain the government's efforts in renovating various churches in the country, such as Sumela Monastery and Akdamar Church, daily Hürriyet said.
“Hagia Sophia is not only open to Muslims, but everyone. In Hatay, mosques and churches are situated looking at each other. These places are still open to worship. We have respect for the worship and religious beliefs of our non-Muslim citizens to the end. We set an example regarding this issue in the world. The Sumela Monastery has been now opened [following renovation] and rituals have started,” AKP vice chair Cevdet Yılmaz told daily Hürriyet.
Turkey's top religious body head defends delivering sermon with a sword during prayers at Hagia Sophia“The case with regards to the Chora is similar to that of Hagia Sophia. The given decisions do not mean that these places will be closed to visitations,” Yılmaz said.
Yılmaz said that Turkey currently has 435 churches and synagogues for 180,854 Christians and around 20,000 Jewish citizens.
Just a few weeks after Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia museum returned to its former status as a mosque, the Chora Museum is following suit. Earlier in August, the Presidential Palace announced that the Chora Museum would soon be open for Muslim prayers. The control of the building has been given to the Directorate of Religious Affairs, Diyanet.