The Popular Unity’s MEP (LAE), Nikos Chountis, tabled a question to the Commission, asking for its immediate reaction on Erdogan’s unacceptable statements, that leave open the possibility of converting Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
In his question, the Greek MEP, after referring to the statements of the Turkish President, who “in his campaign speeches, in the light of the self-government elections, leaves open the possibility of converting Hagia Sophia into a mosque”, notes that “as a large portion of the European Press reckons, these statements are made in quest for votes in order to win the favor of the extreme nationalists and Islamists, are turning against the opposition Republican Party, and the Turkish President is likely to fulfill his ‘promise’.”
Later in his question, Nikos Chountis, after stressing that very recently (13.03.2019), during the debate on the annual report on Turkey, the Plenary of the European Parliament adopted a decision, which, inter alia, states that “it opposes every extreme view that promotes the deterioration of the physiognomy of the historic-religious monument of Hagia Sophia and its conversion into a mosque,” he calls on the Commission to intervene and to react towards the unacceptable statements of the Turkish President, who “promises” to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
