Photos on Turkish state tv confirmed crowds of Muslims praying in and around the mosque on Friday early morning.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan participated in the Friday prayers, the place he recited verses of the Quran.
Some people today came from outside Istanbul and expended the evening all-around Hagia Sophia ready for the prayer, in accordance to CNN Turk.
Only 500 persons have been invited inside of the making since of coronavirus limits, according to Turkey’s spiritual affairs director Ali Erbas. Hundreds much more prayed in the backyard garden and in Sultanahmet Sq. in Istanbul’s old metropolis.
Last week, Erdogan purchased the conversion of the historic monument after a court docket annulled a 1934 presidential decree that produced it a museum.
The decision, involving a person of the city’s most vital landmarks and a UNESCO Entire world Heritage web site, has been criticized by intercontinental religious and political leaders, with UN cultural agency UNESCO among individuals voicing worry.
Nonetheless, the move has not prompted broad opposition in just Turkey.
The Turkish govt has attempted to reassure skeptics that the building’s Christian artworks and frescoes will not be touched, with technological know-how as a substitute getting utilized to conceal them during Friday prayers.
Erdogan has positioned himself as a friend of conservative Islamists in Turkey, moving the nation further more from those secularist roots.
UNESCO explained previously this month that it “deeply regrets” Turkey’s choice and that the option was manufactured devoid of the business obtaining prior notification.
Turkish officials have emphasised that when it is not remaining applied as a mosque, the Hagia Sophia — which is well-liked with vacationers checking out Istanbul — will be open to all to visit totally free of cost, according to state-operate news company Anadolu.
Erdogan made use of a televised speech on July 10 to urge men and women to respect the final decision to transform the developing back again to a mosque.
“Like all our mosques, its doorways will be open up to everybody — Muslim or non-Muslim. As the world’s widespread heritage, Hagia Sophia with its new standing will keep on embracing absolutely everyone in a more sincere way,” he explained.
“We will be dealing with every single viewpoint voiced on the intercontinental stage with regard. But the way Hagia Sophia will be utilized falls beneath Turkey’s sovereign legal rights. We deem just about every shift that goes past voicing an opinion a violation of our sovereignty.”
CNN’s Isil Sariyuce and Arwa Damon claimed from Istanbul and Laura Smith-Spark wrote from London. Emma Reynolds contributed to this report.
