Turkish President Vows to ‘Liberate’ Israeli Mosque Days After Controversial Hagia Sophia Move
As he announced the conversion of the former Byzantine cathedral Hagia Sophia into a mosque, on Friday, Turkish President Recip Erdogan also called for the “liberation” of a mosque in Israel.
Erdogan announced that Hagia Sophia, which had been a museum since 1934, will open for prayers on July 24, according to NBC.
He also stressed that the structure, built in 537 A.D., would still welcome all.
“I underline that we will open Hagia Sophia to worship as a mosque by preserving its character of humanity’s common cultural heritage,” he said in a televised address to the nation, according to the network. “Like all of our other mosques, the doors of Hagia Sophia will be open to all, locals or foreigners, Muslims and non-Muslims.”
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