Islamic religious ceremony held at Hagia Sophia
To commemorate the 567th anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople a "festival" was held at the historic Hagia Sophia during which Islamic prayers and reading from the Qur'an were also heard.
In Turkey, the 29th of May marked the 567th anniversary of the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. As a commemoration of the significant historical event in Turkish history, a “festival” was held at the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
According to International Christian Concern, besides video displays and fireworks, inside the cathedral the recitation of Islamic prayers and a reading of the 48th chapter of the Qur’an were also part of the commemoration.
The Greek City Times called the Islamic elements a distraction from Erdoğan’s mishandling of COVID-19 and the declining economy. Advocacy groups fear that the celebrations are just a precursor to Erdoğan transforming the Christian Orthodox Cathedral into a mosque, ICC noted.
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