Muslim prayers in Turkey’s Hagia Sophia for first time in 86 years
- President Erdogan and his top ministers joined thousands of worshippers at the ancient monument for inaugural prayers
- A top Turkish court announced this month it annulled Hagia Sophia’s status as a museum
An imam began the formal prayer service at 1.45pm (local time), after Erdogan read out a Koranic recitation and the call to prayer rang out from the mosque’s minarets.
Earlier, crowds formed at checkpoints around the historic heart of Istanbul where massed police maintained security. Once through the checks, worshippers sat apart on prayer mats in secured areas outside the building in Sultanahmet Square.
“We are ending our 86 years of longing today,” said one man Sait Colak, referring to the nearly nine decades since Hagia Sophia was declared a museum and ceased to be a place of worship. “Thanks to our president and the court decision, today we are going to have our Friday prayers in Hagia Sophia.”
“This is the opening of a place of worship that was conquered by the right of the sword by the holy conqueror,” said worshipper Latif Ozer, 42. “This is a source of great pride for us, great excitement.”
