Baku, Azerbaijan, July 15
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Hagia Sophia museum's operation as a mosque should not be regarded as a confrontation between Muslims and Christians, Turkish Minister of Religious Affairs Mehmet Germez said, Anadolu agency reported on July 15.
He said the Hagia Sophia museum's functioning as a mosque should not be viewed solely from the perspective of Islam. Germez noted that hundreds of Islamic sanctities misused today in several Balkan countries.
Earlier it was reported that the Deputy Chairman of the Turkish oppositional Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Yusuf Halacoglu said in November, 2013 that the Hagia Sophia museum in Istanbul should function as a mosque.
He said there are forces in Turkey, who do not want Hagia Sophia's functioning as a mosque.
Earlier it was reported that Halacoglu made a proposal to bring back the mosque status to the Hagia Sophia museum.
An appeal was sent to the Turkish parliament to restore the museum's mosque status.
Earlier, another oppositional party of Turkey - Great Union Party (BBP) - also offered to return to the mosque status to the Hagia Sophia museum.
Edited by S.I.
Hagia Sophia museum’s mosque status not to lead to Christian-Islamic confrontation
Hagia Sophia museum’s operation as a mosque should not be regarded as a confrontation between Muslims and Christians,
