Hagia Sophia to be turned back into a mosque

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Tbf most Catholic cathedrals remain active places of worship while being cultural attractions. I don't trust Erdogan's agenda in this (or pretty much anything), but on principle I'm not against it being restored to worship.

couple that to the fact that Erdogan is actively bullying christian clerics and preachers (against Turkey's own laws regarding freedom of religion) and it only shows that he's persuing his agenda of islamisation (and not only in Turkey itself thanks to Diyanet and such)

classic salami-tactics in any case.

[Camerus]

Wasn't it converted to a museum as a sign of religious peace?

Declaring it once more to be an active mosque is precisely the type of culture triumphalism that would appeal to Turkey's MAGA-equivalent crowd.

[Duque de Bragança]

Yeah. I don't really see the issue with it - I know it's sensitive to Orthodox Christians and Catholics. I remember there were fears that when Benedict XVI visited he might say a prayer which would kick off a storm because it is an entirely secular building in Turkey's system.

Since the Patriarch of Constantinople recognized the Ukrainian Church as autocephalous, contrary to the wishes of the Patriarch of Moscow, I don't see Moscow opposing Erdogan's move. Besides, he has been doing much worse with his islamist agenda than this symbolic action for quite a while now, both in and outside of Turkey, as said by Crazy Ivan.

Tbf most Catholic cathedrals remain active places of worship while being cultural attractions. I don't trust Erdogan's agenda in this (or pretty much anything), but on principle I'm not against it being restored to worship.

As for comparisons between most catholic cathedrals and islamic places of worship, that's apple and oranges territory. Entry for non-muslims varies widely from muslim country to another. Turkey used to be pretty relaxed in this aspect though.

[Monoriu]

It is their building.  What they want to do with their building is their business.

[Tamas]

It is their building.  What they want to do with their building is their business.

Yes, and us freely considering them reckless zealous pricks for it is ours.

[Hamilcar]

Well, I'm glad I saw it before they vandalize it.

[garbon]

Well, I'm glad I saw it before they vandalize it.

[Hamilcar]

Well, I'm glad I saw it before they vandalize it.

If it's a mosque, the mosaics with human figures have to go. How is that not vandalism?

[Josquius]

Well, I'm glad I saw it before they vandalize it.

If it's a mosque, the mosaics with human figures have to go. How is that not vandalism?

We already talked about it. They will use a curtain.

[Tamas]

Well, I'm glad I saw it before they vandalize it.

If it's a mosque, the mosaics with human figures have to go. How is that not vandalism?

We already talked about it. They will use a curtain.

.
I am sure.

[Josquius]

Well, I'm glad I saw it before they vandalize it.

If it's a mosque, the mosaics with human figures have to go. How is that not vandalism?

We already talked about it. They will use a curtain.

.
I am sure.

They survived the past few hundred years. If the current islamicist wave keeps up for a few decades to come they might decide smashy smashy is the way to go. But like reactionary movements elsewhere in the world in Turkey its near its peak.

[garbon]

Well, I'm glad I saw it before they vandalize it.

If it's a mosque, the mosaics with human figures have to go. How is that not vandalism?

Oh, I'm sorry I hadn't realised that you had seen it before the 16th century.

[Hamilcar]

Well, I'm glad I saw it before they vandalize it.

If it's a mosque, the mosaics with human figures have to go. How is that not vandalism?

Oh, I'm sorry I hadn't realised that you had seen it before the 16th century.

You know you can see them right now. The UN US sponsoring a massive restoration project.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

But like reactionary movements elsewhere in the world in Turkey its near its peak.

don't count on it

[Valmy]

Yeah. I don't really see the issue with it

Because there is a huge and beautiful Ottoman Mosque right next to it, the Blue Mosque. There is zero reason for it to be a mosque except for nationalist Turk douchebag reasons. It is an ancient historical heritage site that should remain a museum.