The decision of the Turkish Council of State to change the status of Hagia Sophia is “the result of the political will of Turkish President Erdogan” and also “is a blatant provocation against the whole civilised world that recognises the unique value and the universality of the monument,” the Greek Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, said in a statement.
She added, “The nationalism shown by President Erdogan is not appropriate for the situation and, therefore, he leads his country six centuries back.” She also underlined, “Hagia Sophia does not lose its glamour and its universal nature, only because the Turkish Council of State gave in. President Erdogan has decided to isolate Turkey culturally.”
Finally, she stressed that the decision of the Turkish Council of State fully confirmed that there was “no judicial independence in Turkey.”
Source: ANA-MPA