There’s a real movement in Turkey to convert the historic Hagia Sophia into a mosque. A commission in Turkish parliament is considering an application by citizens to turn the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul into a mosque, a bill has been introduced in parliament to restore Hagia Sophia to a “symbol of the Conquest of Istabul” and in November, Turkey’s deputy prime minister promised that the building would be “smiling” again as a mosque soon.1
This is unacceptable.
Hagia Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica which served as the seat of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. When the Ottomans consquered Constantinople, it was converted into a mosque but was eventually opened as a museum on February 1, 1935.
Please sign this petition. We will deliver this petition to UNESCO, which has declared Hagia Sophia part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Source:
1. Learn more and read the articles: Stand up for Hagia Sophia.
