EXCLUSIVE - Debates over Hagia Sophia: museum or mosque?

By Nilay Kar

ISTANBUL

Should Hagia Sophia remain as a museum or be returned into service as a mosque, as it functioned during Ottoman times? This subject has been long-debated in Turkish society, given Hagia Sophia's status as one of the most visited tourist attractions in Istanbul and as one of the most notable surviving monuments in the world. 

On Wednesday, prominent Turkish historians and academics held a press conference in Istanbul, discussing their petition and campaign to keep the Hagia Sophia serving as a museum, which they claim is "unifying." 

"[Preserving Hagia Sophia as a museum] will demonstrate that Turkey is not part of the 'clash of civilisations' but rather a member of the 'alliance of civilizations,'" historian Sevket Pamuk said during the press conference. 

Murat Belge, an outspoken left-liberal Turkish intellectual, writer and academic, argued those who wish to return Hagia Sophia to serving as a mosque suffer from a problematic way of thinking. "This is not the manner of a confident person."

Professor Ugur Tanyeli, an architect, took the debate much further by saying that he didn't think people, including those who want the Hagia Sophia to be converted into a mosque, care about Hagia Sophia. Calling on everyone to respect for the monument, Tanyeli said, "We are talking about a 1,500-year-old monument. But now we use it like a bazaar," Tanyeli said. "Using it as a museum should also be limited. We must also consider logical reasons presented for using it as a mosque."

Designed as a Christian basilica in the sixth century by Anthemios of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus, Hagia Sophia was chosen for preservation as a world heritage site by UNESCO. 

The building, with its 31m diameter dome, was the world’s most spectacular church for centuries, and has been called “the eighth wonder of the world” by art historians. Byzantine Christians considered entering the church like entering heaven.

Hagia Sophia remained a center of Orthodox Christianity until 1453, when the city was conquered by Ottoman Turks under Sultan Mehmed II, known as the Conqueror of Istanbul. After 916 years of service as a church, he ordered Hagia Sophia to service as a "victory mosque," symbolizing the Muslim conquest. Despite this, the mosaics of the church were not destroyed, but rather covered with plaster and were successfully restored in the 20th century. 

Hagia Sophia held the first Friday prayer performed following the conquest, was used as a mosque for 482 years and was considered a jewel of the Muslim world. Considered the highest ranking place of worship in the Ottoman Empire, it became known as the "Great Mosque." Following the Ottoman Empire's collapse, it was converted into a museum in 1935.

Those who wish the Hagia Sophia to be converted into a mosque recall a statement attributed to Sultan Mehmet II, "Hagia Sophia should remain a mosque."

Last year, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc expressed his desire for the restoration of Muslim prayers saying, "We look at this somber Hagia Sophia, and wish its happy days will come soon."

In a press conference held Tuesday, Salih Turhan, head of the Turkish NGO Anatolian Youth Association, said that their struggle for converting the Hagia Sophia into a mosque continues. "Within the framework of the celebration of conquest of Istanbul Saturday, we will perform a morning prayer in front of Hagia Sophia with 50,000 people attending. We call on everyone to participate in the morning prayer on Saturday." 

Tourists in Istanbul also differ over the Hagia Sophia's status. "Whether it is a museum or a mosque, it is fine. It is the same. I don't think it will make any difference," Alawi al-Jafari from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) told the Anadolu Agency. 

"[Hagia Sophia] has a very nice look. I hope it will a be mosque in the future," said Ibrahim Kabon, another tourist from UAE. 

John Stean from America expressed different views, saying, "I think it should stay as a museum to honor the two religions -- Christianity and Islam. You have nice mosques around here already. So if you ask me, I will say no." 

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