Istanbul's Hagia Sofia will no longer be free to visit by foreign tourists

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“Visiting Hagia Sophia will become paid for foreign tourists from January 15, 2024. For Turkish citizens visiting the mosque for worship, entry will remain free,” Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said at a briefing broadcast by local media. https://turkmenportal.com/en/blog/69256/entrance-to-istanbuls-hagia-sophia-mosque-will-be-paid-for-foreigners 

This is frustating because part the argument as why it was converted from a secular museum to a mosque was that it will be free to visit by everybody. Now Erdogan got his way and Hagia Sofia ceased to be a museum, but they will also still be charging money in the process. 

Why is Hagia Sofia important? It was built in the 6th century by Roman Emperor Justinian to be the cathedral of the entire Christian East and was the biggest building in the world until the construction of the Seville Cathedral. The point of interest for many visitors are its the beautifully preserved Ancient mosaics that can be admired inside:

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@Pennywise I am back at it with news about Erdoganussy

[TimotheeChalamet 6,943]

So sad, that place is really beautiful in person! Been there twice just right before Erdogan came 

[FameMonster01 7,208]

It should be free of charge for Greek citizens, it is only fair 

[faysalaaa 5,336]

I like it more as a mosque / church than a museum. When I go to ancient churches in Italy while christians are praying, its an amazing experience. But I dont know the politics of Turkey, so im sure there is a reason people oppose this?

[weed 78,920]

oh wow I never knew it was the biggest building in the world back then! Iconic landmark. 

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1 hour ago, faysalaaa1 said:

I like it more as a mosque / church than a museum. When I go to ancient churches in Italy while christians are praying, its an amazing experience. But I dont know the politics of Turkey, so im sure there is a reason people oppose this?

It’s been used as a political tool by Erdogan. Converting it into a mosque was a political move to please a small but extremely conservative-Muslim base in the country that caught a lot of people by surprise. There was never a big movement to turn it back into a mosque and people were pretty contempt to keep it as a museum that represented both faiths.

If Erdogan and his government *actually* cared about the Hagia Sophia they’d be focusing their efforts to repairing and restoring it. But instead it continues to slide into severe neglect and disrepair for absolutely no reason other than they just don’t care about it.

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48 minutes ago, faysalaaa1 said:

I like it more as a mosque / church than a museum. When I go to ancient churches in Italy while christians are praying, its an amazing experience. But I dont know the politics of Turkey, so im sure there is a reason people oppose this?

Having Hagia Sofia as a secular museum was a middleground position, because there are people who want it as a mosque and others who want it as a church. The building is seen by many as a landmark of Greek history and a symbol of Orthodox Christianity, bc of this many vising it are from countries like Greece, Serbia, Romania, Rusia etc.

Poltically, converting it into a mosque was a decision aimed to anger Greece in particular, and it was yet another signal Turkey is moving from secularism back to Islamism and attempts to revive its Ottoman past.

Practically having it function as a mosque is less than ideal because Islam forbids religious art depicting persons, so the mosaics get covered during Muslim prayers. So depending on when you visit, you may not see them as a tourist.  

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2 hours ago, FfFfFfFF said:

@Pennywise I am back at it with news about Erdoganussy

I’m gonna pretend that I’ve never read that word 

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44 minutes ago, FfFfFfFF said:

Poltically, converting it into a mosque was a decision aimed to anger Greece in particular, and it was yet another signal Turkey is moving from secularism back to Islamism and attempts to revive its Ottoman past

This was like the only reason tbh. Erdoğan only did it to appease his hyper-religious bigoted base of voters. 

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2 hours ago, TimotheeChalamet said:

So sad, that place is really beautiful in person! Been there twice just right before Erdogan came 

You should come again 

[GAGASEXUAL 3,978]

I hate Erdogan.

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16 minutes ago, GAGASEXUAL said:

You should come again 

I was supposed to come this December, but the plans fell through.  So I am pissed the visiting fee is going to be reintroced exactly after I would'e hypotetically visited it.

Well I hope The Chora will at least be open next time I have the chance to visit (as far as I know it's under renovation now).

[r4therupbeat 1,587]

so free for the Greeks right?

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15 minutes ago, FfFfFfFF said:

I was supposed to come this December, but the plans fell through.  So I am pissed the visiting fee is going to be reintroced exactly after I would'e hypotetically visited it.

Well I hope The Chora will at least be open next time I have the chance to visit (as far as I know it's under renovation now).

Oh  If you come here one day, I'd love to show you around.