In a divided world, sacred spaces like Al Aqsa and Babri Masjid, which have raised nationalistic fervour, should have endured ...

Within hours, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree handing over Hagia Sophia to Turkey’s Religious Affairs Presidency. In a televised address to the nation, Erdogan said the first prayers ...

Hagia Sophia, a major tourist attraction, has been the scene of Islam-linked activities in recent years. In 2018, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan controversially recited a verse from the Quran in ...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, she said, cited Turkey’s Islamic history in his speech on Hagia Sophia to announce its destiny and its “natural right” as “the leader of Muslims worldwide.” On ...

Hagia Sophia, an architectural marvel and a symbol of Istanbul’s rich history, stands as a testament to the city’s diverse cultural heritage. Originally built as a cathedral in the 6th century, it has ...

Erdogan, who celebrated the reopening from Ankara, ordered its conversion in August 2020 – a month after reopening the former historical basilica of the Hagia Sophia to Muslim worship.

Last May, the same Council gave Erdogan the greenlight to turn the Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque. The Kariye Camii Museum is located in Fatih, Istanbul’s most populous and religiously conservative ...

For nearly two decades, Erdogan has revived Ottoman symbolism in public life, signaling a departure from Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's strict secularism. This became most evident in 2020, when Istanbul's ...

Hatred toward Christians and Jews in the country often leads to discrimination, stigmatization and attacks. In July 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan turned the Hagia Sophia, an ancient ...

The once poor kid who escaped from a Cuban immigrant housing project, managed to study at a university, became a respected ...