Turkish Minister for Religious Affairs Mehmet Gormez said that the Hagia Sophia Museum in Istanbul should not be seen as a confrontation between Muslims and Christians. The operation of Hagia Sophia as a mosque should only be considered from the Islamic point of view, he added, Trend reports.
Hundreds of Islamic shrines were misused in some Balkan states, in his words.
Yusuf Halacoglu, deputy head of the Nationalist Movement Party of Turkey, a member of parliament, said in November that Hagia Sophia should function as a mosque. A related request was filed with the parliament. The Great Union Party promotes the same initiative.
