Turkish Minister Hails Hagia Sophia Mosque Reopening as Symbol of Ottoman Conquest

ISTANBUL — Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy has described the reopening of Hagia Sophia as a mosque as a lasting symbol of the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, marking the anniversary of the site's return to Islamic worship.

In a message posted on X, Ersoy commemorated what he called the end of a long period of waiting after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed the 2020 decree restoring Hagia Sophia's status as a mosque. He thanked Erdoğan for leading the decision and praised the government's ongoing restoration work at the historic monument.

Referring to Hagia Sophia by its Turkish name, Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi, Ersoy wrote that it is “the symbol of the Conquest and the unparalleled legacy of Fatih Sultan Mehmet Han.” He added that the government is carrying out “the most comprehensive restoration efforts in the history of the Republic” to preserve the building while remaining faithful to its original form.

Hagia Sophia served as the cathedral of the Byzantine Empire for nearly a millennium before being converted into a mosque following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. It functioned as a museum from 1935 until 2020, when a Turkish court ruling and a presidential decree returned it to use as a mosque.

Previously, the UOJ reported that a candidate for the U.S. Senate vowed to return Hagia Sophia to the Church.