Erdogan reconverts Hagia Sophia from museum to mosque, sparking global outcry

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signed a decree to reconvert Hagia Sophia in Istanbul from a museum into a mosque, fulfilling a long-standing ambition. The UNESCO World Heritage site, originally built as a Christian cathedral in 532 under Emperor Justinian I, was converted into an Ottoman mosque after the 1453 conquest, then turned into a museum in 1935 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as a symbol of secularism. Erdogan's move, supported by 73% of Turks according to a poll, has drawn sharp criticism from the US, Greece, UNESCO, and Christian leaders. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Turkey to maintain the museum status to respect religious diversity. Greek authorities condemned the decision, while Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed dismay, warning it would divide faiths. Armenian Patriarch Sahak II Mashalian suggested the site could accommodate both Muslims and Christians. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu defended the decision as a matter of national sovereignty. The Council of State is expected to rule within two weeks, but the outcome is seen as predetermined. Byzantine mosaics, including the Deesis and depictions of emperors, may be plastered over as they were after 1453. The conversion underscores Erdogan's Islamist political vision, reversing Atatürk's secular legacy.