This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53366307

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Hagia Sophia: Turkey turns iconic Istanbul museum into mosque Hagia Sophia: Turkey turns iconic Istanbul museum into mosque
(about 1 hour later)
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signed a decree converting Hagia Sophia in Istanbul - founded as a cathedral - into a mosque.Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signed a decree converting Hagia Sophia in Istanbul - founded as a cathedral - into a mosque.
Earlier Turkey's top administrative court annulled the museum status of the world-famous cultural site.Earlier Turkey's top administrative court annulled the museum status of the world-famous cultural site.
Founded 1,500 years-ago as a cathedral, the Ottomans made Hagia Sophia a mosque. But in 1934 it became a museum. Founded 1,500 years-ago as an Orthodox Christian cathedral, centuries later the Ottomans made Hagia Sophia a mosque.
It is a Unesco World Heritage site. Unesco urged Turkey not to change its status without discussion. In 1934 it became a museum and is now a Unesco World Heritage site.
Islamists in Turkey have long called for it to be converted to a mosque, but secular opposition members have opposed the move. The proposal has prompted criticism, from religious and political leaders worldwide. The cultural body had urged Turkey not to change its status without discussion.
Islamists in Turkey have long called for it to be converted to a mosque, but secular opposition members have opposed the move. The proposal has prompted criticism from religious and political leaders worldwide
Shortly after the move, the first call to prayer was recited at the Hagia Sophia and was broadcast on all of Turkey's main news channels. The cultural site's social media channels have now been taken down.
What has the reaction been?
The head of the Eastern Orthodox Church has condemned the proposal, as has Greece - home to many millions of Orthodox followers.The head of the Eastern Orthodox Church has condemned the proposal, as has Greece - home to many millions of Orthodox followers.
Mr Erdogan's decree hands control of the Ayasofya Mosque, as it is known in Turkish, to Turkey's religious directorate, to reopen it for worship. "The nationalism displayed by President Erdogan... takes his country back six centuries," Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said in a statement.
Modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk approved Hagia Sophia's status as a museum in 1934, and since then it has been a symbol of secularism, open to all faiths. The court ruling "absolutely confirms that there is no independent justice" in Turkey, she added.
But the Council of State, Turkey's top administrative court, said in its ruling on Friday: "It was concluded that the settlement deed allocated it as a mosque and its use outside this character is not possible legally".But the Council of State, Turkey's top administrative court, said in its ruling on Friday: "It was concluded that the settlement deed allocated it as a mosque and its use outside this character is not possible legally".
"The cabinet decision in 1934 that ended its use as a mosque and defined it as a museum did not comply with laws," it said."The cabinet decision in 1934 that ended its use as a mosque and defined it as a museum did not comply with laws," it said.
The Russian Orthodox Church immediately expressed regret that the Turkish court did not take its concerns into account when ruling on Hagia Sophia, Tass news agency reported.The Russian Orthodox Church immediately expressed regret that the Turkish court did not take its concerns into account when ruling on Hagia Sophia, Tass news agency reported.
It said the decision could lead to even greater divisions.It said the decision could lead to even greater divisions.
But Turkey hit back at claims that the move would exclude people of other faiths.
"Opening up Hagia Sophia to worship doesn't keep local or foreign tourists from visiting the site," Ibrahim Kalin, Turkey's presidential spokesperson, told Anadolu Agency.
History of a global icon