During an art awards ceremony in Constantinople last night, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan referred to the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
These awards have been established in memory of the militant Islamist Turkish poet Necip Fazil Kisakiurek, who fought vehemently for the reopening of Hagia Sophia as a mosque and had clashed politically with the Kemalist establishment.
“37 years after the poet’s death, we had the honor to open Hagia Sophia, which was his greatest dream. Praise Allah. After 80 years of longing, we broke the chains together and reinstated Hagia Sophia to its original form, fulfilling the wish of the Conqueror,” said the Turkish president said during the event.
“I once again praise my Lord for giving us this honor, this dignity to enjoy the end of the captivity of Hagia Sophia,” he said, “To be remembered as the president who reopened Hagia Sophia is the greatest honor in the world of our hearts.”
President Erdogan also said that those who would protect Hagia Sophia were the young people, individually responding to the call. God willing, as long as this continues, the echoes of the Quran will resound from the domes of Hagia Sophia, and the call to prayer will persist from its minarets. The Great Mosque of Hagia Sophia will continue to talk to the faithfuls’ hearts forever as a symbol of the Turkish century,” he added.
Source: ANA-MPA / Translated by Thanos Chrysanthopoulos
