UNESCO may strip Hagia Sophia and Chora of World Heritage Site status

* Photo: İslam Yakut / AA

Click to read the article in Turkish

The World Heritage Committee affiliated with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has requested a report from Turkey regarding the changes made to Hagia Sophia and Chora, which have been converted from museums into mosques.

As reported by Deutsche Welle (DW), the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO meeting in China for its annual session asked Turkey to provide "an updated report on the state of conservation" of the Hagia Sophia. The country has been requested to submit the related report on Hagia Sophia and Chora by February 1, 2022 at the latest.

The UNESCO Committee has reportedly expressed "grave concern" within this context and said that it "deeply regrets the lack of dialogue and information" on the changes and asked Turkey to engage in better international communication about its plans for these sites.

NOTE: World Heritage properties must display Outstanding Universal Value, which is the basis of any nomination. According to UNESCO, "Outstanding Universal Value means cultural and/or natural significance which is so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generations of all humanity." The Committee has the authority to put a site on the "List of World Heritage in Danger" or to completely remove the site from the World Heritage List, as in the recent case of Liverpool in England as the modern buildings have led to the city losing its global heritage title.

Foreign Ministry statement

Turkey has responded to this statement in a press release by Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Tanju Bilgiç.

In its statement in Response to a Question Regarding the Decision adopted on "Historic Areas of Istanbul" during the Extended 44th Session of UNESCO World Heritage Committee, Bilgiç has said:

The ongoing restoration programmes and other implementations in both monuments have no negative impact as per UNESCO standards, on the contrary they aim at protecting the authenticity and the integrity of the property as corroborated by the UNESCO missions of 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Other highlights of the statement are as follows:

'They are properties of Turkey'

"The Grand Mosque of Hagia Sophia and the Chora Mosque, the components of the World Heritage Site 'Historic Areas of Istanbul', are restituted to mosque upon the decisions of the Turkish Council of State following a legal process.

"The Hagia Sophia and the Chora are the properties of the Republic of Turkey that are meticulously conserved in terms of historical, cultural and spiritual value.

"The functional usage of the Hagia Sophia and the Chora are solely related to Turkey's sovereign rights.

"Since the Hagia Sophia, opened to worship one year ago, was registered in its Foundation Deed as a mosque, its functioning accordingly is only an act of restitution and exercising sovereignty rights.

"From the very outset of the restitution process, Turkey has been in open and uninterrupted communication and cooperation with UNESCO World Heritage Center. The two visits of the UNESCO Advisory Mission to Istanbul upon Turkey's invitation clearly manifest our constructive and transparent approach which is also reflected in the Advisory Mission reports.

'Articles based on biased, unfair wording'

"We are astonished by the decision adopted during the Extended 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee, where Turkey is currently an observer State Party, which includes expressions that contradict with the Advisory Mission reports and the factual situation in these monuments.

"Turkey disassociates itself from the relevant articles of the decision on the 'Historic Areas of Istanbul' based on biased, unfair wording prepared with political intentions, which is incompatible with the implementations, the factual situation and the Advisory Mission reports.

"Fully aware of its rights, prerogatives and responsibilities towards its properties on UNESCO World Heritage List, Turkey will continue its diligent and rigorous efforts to preserve its sites within the framework of our commitments to the 1972 World Heritage Convention as a State Party since 1983." (HA/SD)