New controversy has emerged from Turkey following a social media post by Culture Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy marking six years since the Hagia Sophia’s re-conversion into a mosque. The minister described the anniversary as “historic” and emphasized its significance in a statement posted online.
‘Symbol of the Conquest’
In his message, Ersoy referred to the Hagia Sophia as the “symbol of the Conquest,” linking it directly to Sultan Mehmed II—the Ottoman ruler who captured Constantinople in 1453. He hailed the monument as “invaluable heritage” left by the Conqueror Sultan and publicly thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his role in the 2020 decision to revert the site to a mosque.
Major Restoration Efforts Underway
The minister also announced that extensive restoration work is currently underway at the Hagia Sophia—describing it as the largest such project in the history of the Turkish Republic. Accompanying his post was a photo showing him standing beside President Erdoğan inside the building.
Ersoy’s full statement read: “At the Hagia Sophia—the invaluable legacy of the Conqueror Sultan Mehmed—we continue, with great sensitivity, the most comprehensive restoration work ever undertaken in the history of the Turkish Republic, in order to preserve this sacred heritage and pass it on to future generations in its authentic form. I express my gratitude to our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who led the effort to reopen the Hagia Sophia as a place of worship.”
The post coincides with the sixth anniversary of the July 2020 decree that transformed the UNESCO World Heritage site—formerly a museum since 1934—back into an active mosque. That decision sparked strong reactions from Greece and the wider international community, citing concerns over the site’s universal cultural and religious significance.