Turkish Government Says Church-Turned-Museum Cannot Be "Cathedral" And "Mosque" At The Same Time

Turkish authorities have refused the appeal of a number of local parties and NGOs to hold a namaz (Islamic prayer service), and a holy mass once a year in Saint Hagia Sophia Cathedral.

"Saint Sophia Cathedral is a museum, and according to the Turkish legislation, no religious ceremonies can be held in museums," the statement of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey says.

Hagia Sophia Cathedral, built in the fourth century during the Constantine Empire, belonged to the Orthodox Church until 1453. After Constantinople's collapse, it served as a mosque for 500 years. In 1934, the first Turkish President and founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, transformed the building into a museum.  Read more... (330 words)

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