UNESCO wants to examine Turkey's alterations to Hagia Sophia | Flash News
UNESCO wants to examine Turkey's alterations to Hagia Sophia
The Turkish service of Deutsche Welle reported on December 2 that the Assistant Director-General of UNESCO had requested Turkey to inform internationally renowned archaeologist Mauner Buchanki of the interventions and possible changes in Hagia Sophia and Chora from Istanbul.
The United Nations cultural agency has said it wants to examine changes to the famous Hagia Sophia and Chora of Istanbul in Turkey, which were recently converted into mosques.
According to Deutsche Welle's Turkish service, Ernesto Otun Ramirez, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, told the Turkish government that he would send the honorary special advisor to UNESCO, Mauner Buchanki, to authorize inspections of changes brought to historic sites.
The report says Otten is concerned about rumors that the Turkish government is in the process of making changes to both monuments with reference to Christian elements.
Otten was also deeply concerned by statements made by Turkish Culture Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersui since early November that the organization "adopted Turkish views on changing the use of these two museums".
In early November, Ersui told a Turkish parliament session that “UNESCO is not concerned that it [Hagia Sohpia] has become a mosque”.
On July 10, the Turkish State Council repealed a 1934 decree recognizing Hagia Sophia as its museum. At the end of the day, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree declaring Hagia Sophia open to Muslim worship. The local Orthodox Church, including the Russian Orthodox Church, has expressed regret over the decision, along with UNESCO.
A month after the opening of Hagia Sophia, Erdogan also converted one of Istanbul's most famous Byzantine buildings, the historic Chora Church, into a mosque.
The medieval Church of the Holy Savior, built near the walls of the ancient city of Constantinople, features 14th-century Byzantine mosaic scenes and biblical stories.