Loading ...The Conflict Between the Greeks and Arabs Over the Hagia Sophia
By: Sophia Segal/Arab America Contributing Writer
We all know the Hagia Sophia. It’s a beautiful church, then turned mosque, that is important to the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. In 1934, it was converted into a museum to show the world the rich history of all occupants that once called it home. But earlier this year, Turkey’s president Recap Tayyip Erdogan announced that the Hagia Sophia would be converted back into a mosque, but there is opposition from religious and political leaders all over the world.
President Erdogan defended the decision because the country exercised its sovereign right to convert it back into a mosque, this then led to prayers being held on July 24th.
Turkish officials say that Christian emblems would not be removed; this will include mosaics of the Virgin Mary.
It was Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, who declared that the Hagia Sophia should be a museum, though President Erdogan is now taking steps to remold Turkey in his vision. He is making no apologies towards this move but saying that anyone who has a problem is attacking Turkey’s sovereignty.
Many who are part of the International community argue that the Hagia Sophia belongs to humanity-not just Turkey- and that should remain. It has been called the bridge of the two faiths and a symbol for co-existence. Many Eastern Orthodox churches, Greece being one of them, have condemned the move.
Greece
The relations between NATO allies, Ankara and Athens, has been uneasy due to tensions in recent months, but the tensions have rapidly increased because of the decision of the Hagia Sophia. To the Greeks, the Hagia Sophia was a central place for their Orthodox Christian religion. When it was built, it was the world’s largest cathedrals where Byzantine emperors were crowned. For this, the Greeks decorated it with ornate marble and mosaic decorations. After the fall of Constantinople, the Turks renamed the city Istanbul and the cathedral became a mosque. They added the minarets which now dominate the skyline.
This conquest from the Ottomans was one of the darkest moments in Greek history, leading to the persecution of thousands of Christian Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks. Greek and Byzantine historians have said that history is repeating itself and that the decision of president Erdogan marks the second fall of the Byzantine empire.
This decision has sparked an outcry from Pope Francis, Patriarch Kirill of Russia, and even the White House. But Greece isn’t stopping, getting the attention and rally of International support of sanctions against President Erdogan and his government.
However, some international experts are saying that Greece may not be able to get its backing from the US and EU allies. But in recent days the EU leaders may be leaning towards sanctions on President Erdogan because he has announced plans proceed with a controversial energy drilling in the eastern Mediterranean.
Germany has been trying to defuse the situation to bring Greece and Turkey back to the negotiation table, but with the stakes being very high, Greece isn’t taking any chances.
Now what?
The country is very divided on what to do, a majority of the Turks want it reinstated as a mosque while a minority want it to retain its museum status. Meanwhile the museum community from all over the world is also divided. Muslims are worried that this will hurt them in other countries and they will now be targeted.
Would it have been better for Turkey to pioneer a new chapter of interfaith relations while allowing both Muslims and Christians to take part in sharing the Hagia Sophia and allow prayers to take place? This would give them each the space to turn into what they wanted.
There have been many events in history where other countries have torn down and demolished mosques all over the world and the international communities didn’t do anything about it. Is it okay for Turkey to have turned the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque or should there have been talks set forth before it took place? There are many questions that should be addressed, such as what needs to happen and how. The hypocrisy of the situations surrounding these issues needs to be addressed as well.
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