“A gesture to Muslims is [a] much more immediate [political gain] and preferable and the [gains from the] touristic side of Hagia Sophia can be negligible,” Sonmez argued. “That’s why he didn’t take it into consideration.” That is, the benefits of asserting Islam’s superiority over both secularism and Christianity outweighed for Erdogan any economic considerations. […]
Video: Robert Spencer on Hagia Sophia; Biden and the Coronavirus; and more
A wide-ranging interview with ex-Muslim Steve Mashni, streamed on Tuesday.
Turkey: Muslims screaming ‘Allahu akbar’ unfurl Taliban flag inside Hagia Sophia
Erdogan’s conversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque has encouraged and emboldened Islamic supremacists and jihadists around the world. #AfghanTaliban flag was raised in #HagiaSophia, #Turkey by pro #Taliban activists. The conversion of Hagia Sophia was a motivational message of #MuslimBrotherhood to the world’s Islamist #extremists and #terrorists. Soon, pro #ISIS activists will raise their […]
Muslim prof: ‘Conversion of Hagia Sophia has handed right-wingers an excuse and impetus to demonise Islam’
Shahid A Abbasi is Emeritus Professor at Pondicherry University in India. In this article, he hits on the real why Erdogan should not have converted Hagia Sophia to a mosque. Not out of respect for the Christians of Turkey and for the country’s Christian heritage. Not to demonstrate his commitment to Kemalist secularism. Not because […]
Syrian Regime Emphasizes Its Protection of Christians By Building Miniature Hagia Sophia
The story is here: The Syrian regime under President Bashar Al-Assad has announced that it will build a miniature replica of the Hagia Sophia, in opposition to the Turkish government’s reversion of the building from a museum into a mosque. “The construction of this mini Hagia Sophia, taking place in the central province of Hama, […]
In slap at Turkey, Syrian government to build replica of Hagia Sophia with help from Russia
This move further highlights the new formations of strategic alliances in the Middle East. It is sure to infuriate and humiliate Turkey, which has been bursting with pride over its new “conquest” of Hagia Sophia, which was first built in 537 as a Christian cathedral. The reconversion of this Christian jewel into a mosque grieved […]
How a Turkish Journalist Sees the Transformation of Hagia Sophia
Memri.org has published here the summary of a debate between Syrian political analyst and a Turkish journalist, on the turning of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, followed by a transcript of excerpts from their debate. Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) aired a debate about Turkey’s recent decision to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque. Syrian political analyst […]
Muslims Scream ‘Allahu Akbar’ as Hagia Sophia Officially Becomes a Mosque
My latest at PJ Media: Hagia Sophia, the foremost cathedral in the entire Christian world for nearly a thousand years, officially became a mosque today, and the party is on in Istanbul. According to Middle East Eye, there was a festive atmosphere as thousands of Turks thronged to the city to take part in the […]
Turkey’s religious affairs chief brandishes sword during first Hagia Sophia sermon, “Hagia Sophia: Sign of conquest”
“Hagia Sophia: Sign of conquest, our trust in Fati̇h (Sultan Mehmet).” The Turks are making no secret of what the conversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque means. What is coming should be clear to everyone, but isn’t: in February 2018, Erdoğan declared his desire to reconquer the lands the Ottoman caliphate once ruled: “Those […]
Turkey: Thousands of Muslims screaming ‘Allahu akbar’ celebrate ‘reconquest’ of Hagia Sophia
“Allahu akbar” means Allah is greater, i.e., greater than your god, and Turks today are making no effort to hide their supremacist delight. “Videos of the Greek dismay were circulated gleefully among the crowd in Istanbul.” This is no surprise, since Hagia Sophia as a mosque from 1453 to 1935 stood as a symbol of […]