In Turkey today, the Council of State has to decide whether Hagia Sophia in Istanbul can be converted into a mosque or not. Built in the sixth century during the reign of Byzantine King Justinian I, it was the largest church in the world for nearly a thousand years. When the Ottoman Empire conquered the city in 1453, it was converted into a mosque, but later turned into a museum in the 1930s. However, if the court allows it on Thursday, it will be rebuilt as a mosque. The building is also on the United Nations World Heritage List. During his election campaign last year, President Tayyip Erdogan promised this change. Conservative Muslims in Turkey have been demanding for years that the building be turned into a mosque. However, secular political forces in the opposition have opposed the move. The proposal has also been criticized internationally, and religious and political leaders around the world have expressed concern. The head of the Eastern Orthodox Church has opposed it. Greece, where millions of Orthodox Christians live, has also spoken out against the move. Greece’s culture minister has accused Turkey of fanning nationalist and religious sentiments and insisted that the UNESCO World Heritage … Continue reading Is Turkey’s Hagia Sophia Museum or Mosque? Decision to be made today