Absent from the first prayer in Hagia Sophia as a mosque, will be the mayor of Constantinople Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Regarding the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, the mayor had stated that he does not reject the “Hagia Sophia’s identity as a mosque.” “Hagia Sophia has been a mosque in my mind and conscience since 1453. It is also a world-renowned cultural asset of Constantinople. In all my speeches, I call it the ‘Mosque of Ayasofya’,” Ekrem İmamoğlu said a few days ago.
Ekrem İmamoğlu referred to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque. “Should this change in Hagia Sophia contributes to the material and moral wealth of my country, create employment opportunities for millions of unemployed, university graduates and millions of young people, should my country earns the respect of international public opinion, then I will steadfastly support it,” stated the mayor of Constantinople at the Cumhuriyet newspaper, who directly challenged the benefit that Turkey could have from such a decision.
Ekrem İmamoğlu then wondered what had changed in a year and the Turkish president changed his mind, saying there could be attacks on mosques around the world following such a decision on Hagia Sophia. The mayor of Constantinople expressed his concern that, following this decision, mosques in various parts of the world are really endangered.