Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcement on the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque

Altering the nature of important cultural monuments indisputably deals a blow to the cultural heritage of humanity.This alteration constitutes a violation of Turkey’s obligations that derive from the UNESCO Convention of 1972, and casts a dark shadow on its image.The use of monuments of such radiance and powerful symbolism must transcend any expediencies and should function in a way that unites and reconciles the global community.Changing the use of the monument, beyond the symbolism of such a move, seriously jeopardises the integrity of the structure, the…Original Article