President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan marked the sixth anniversary of the Hagia Sophia's reopening as a mosque on July 10, 2024 [1].
The event underscores the symbolic importance of the monument in Turkey's national identity and the government's commitment to its religious status. By celebrating the anniversary, the administration reinforces the legacy of the 2020 decision to revert the site from a museum to a place of worship.
During the commemoration at the Ayasofya-i Kebir Camii in Istanbul, Erdoğan reflected on the significance of the transition. "İbadete açmak bize nasip oldu, mutluyuz," Erdoğan said [1]. The phrase translates to expressing happiness that the reopening for worship was granted to his administration.
Other government officials joined the anniversary observations to highlight the ongoing management of the site. Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said he was grateful to the president for the decision [2]. The anniversary serves as a focal point for the government to showcase restoration efforts aimed at preserving the ancient structure, while maintaining its function as a mosque.
Sözcü Çelik said the original transition was a historic day [3]. The 2020 decree ended decades of the building serving as a museum—a status it had held since 1935—and returned it to its status as a mosque [1].
The celebrations included reflections on the site's architectural and spiritual value. The administration continues to emphasize that the restoration work is essential for the longevity of the monument, ensuring it remains accessible for both prayer and visitation [2].
““İbadete açmak bize nasip oldu, mutluyuz.””
The continued celebration of the Hagia Sophia's status as a mosque reflects a broader political strategy to align Turkish state policy with religious and nationalist sentiments. By framing the reopening as a historical achievement, the administration utilizes the site as a symbol of sovereignty and cultural reclamation, which remains a point of significant interest and occasional tension in international diplomacy.
