Recep Tayyip Erdogan – President of Turkey has signed a decree converting Hagia Sophia in Istanbul – founded as a cathedral – into a mosque.
The decree was signed after Turkey’s top administrative court void the museum status of the world-famous cultural site.
Hagia Sophia was founded 1,500 years-ago as an Orthodox Christian cathedral, centuries later the Ottomans made Hagia Sophia a mosque.
In 1934 it became a museum and is now it is UNESCO’s World Heritage site.
However, Islamists in Turkey have long called for it to be converted to a mosque, but secular opposition members have opposed the move.
The proposal has received mixed reaction within Turkey but prompted criticism from religious and political leaders worldwide
The first call to prayer was recited at the Hagia Sophia and was broadcast on all of Turkey’s main news channels Shortly after the decision.
Meanwhile, the cultural site’s social media channels have now been taken down.
