Istanbul, Aug. 21, (dpa/GNA) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a decree on Friday to reconvert into a mosque a 6th-century church-turned-museum in Istanbul, a few kilometres from the famous Hagia Sophia that was opened to Muslim prayers last month.
A presidential decree published on the Official Gazette orders the Chora Museum to be opened for Islamic prayers.
Similar to Hagia Sophia, the building will be handed over to Turkey’s religious authority Diyanet, the decree said.
The building, also known as the Church of the Holy Saviour and famous for its well-preserved mosaics and paintings, was turned into an Ottoman mosque in 16th century. The Turkish state declared it a museum in 1945.
In November 2019, Turkey’s top administrative court annulled the 1945 decision, paving the way for its conversion into a mosque.
Both Hagia Sophia – which was built as a Christian church in the 6th century and subsequently became a mosque, a musuem and, in July, a mosque again – and Chora are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Back in July, the United States, the European Union, Russia, UNESCO and various church leaders expressed concern at the change in status of Hagia Sophia, a cultural landmark for both Christians and Muslims.
Erdogan had rejected criticism as interference in Turkey’s sovereignty rights.
It was not immediately clear when the Chora would open to prayers.
GNA