2024-07-23 16:25:06
Hagia Sophia, which was converted into a mosque by decree of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan four years ago, continues to be the most visited site in Turkey. Every day, around 50,000 people on average visit Hagia Sophia, said Assistant Mufti of Istanbul Ahmet Aktürkoglu, quoted by local media.
The Muftiship is under the authority of the Diyanet – the Directorate of Religious Affairs of Turkey, whose staff have the status of civil servants.
According to Ahmet Aktürkoglu, in the past 4 years, about 25 million people have visited the temple, which means 6-7 million visitors per year.
“Hagia Sophia as a mosque is visited by people who come from all over Turkey, and also by foreigners from different countries – Muslims and non-Muslims. Because it is a historical place that attracts everyone’s interest, a symbol of the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans. The traditional Muslim prayer ritual is performed here 5 times a day. In addition, on the initiative of the Istanbul Mufti, various initiatives are organized – lessons on Islamic teachings, celebrations of the holy Muslim Qandil evenings. The Korani Kerim courses are held here, which are organized jointly with the Ministry of Education, as well as the graduation of the graduates, the assistant mufti said.
Fifty employees of Dianeta work in Hagia Sophia. Their task is to guide visitors to maintain order in the mosque during prayers, to provide information about Islam and Hagia Sophia to foreign tourists.
Hagia Sophia, designated by UNESCO as a monument of universal human value, served as a church for 916 years. After the capture of Constantinople in 1453 by the troops of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II (the Conqueror), it was converted into a mosque. By decree of Atatürk and a decision of the Council of Ministers in 1934, it was turned into a national museum. It remained as such until 4 years ago, BTA reported.
86 years later, on July 10, 2020, by a decision of the State Council, its status as a museum was revoked, and on the same day, by decree of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Hagia Sophia was reopened as a mosque.
On July 24, 2020, with an impressive Islamic ceremony with the participation of the President and the Council of Ministers, the first prayer in 86 years was held in the temple.