Turkey says UNESCO's remarks on Hagia Sophia Mosque 'biased'

Published 24 Jul,2021 via Hürriyet Daily News - The functional usage of the Hagia Sophia and the Chora are solely related to Turkey’s sovereign rights, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tanju Bilgiç said on July 24, noting that since the Hagia Sophi, opened to worship one year ago, was registered in its Foundation Deed as a mosque, it’s functioning accordingly is only an act of restitution and exercising sovereignty rights.

Turkey is “astonished” by the decision adopted during the Extended 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee, which includes expressions that “contradict” with the Advisory Mission reports and the factual situation in these monuments, said the spokesperson in a written statement.

The Grand Mosque of Hagia Sophia and the Chora Mosque, the components of the World Heritage Site “Historic Areas of Istanbul,” have been converted to mosques upon the decisions of the Turkish Council of State following a legal process and they are the properties of Turkey that are “meticulously conserved in terms of historical, cultural and spiritual value,” said the spokesperson.