AKP says Hagia Sophia's frescoes, icons to be 'better preserved'

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Hagia Sophia will be "better preserved" following Turkey's decision to reconvert İstanbul's iconic architectural gem into a mosque after decades as a museum, the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) spokesperson Ömer Çelik said yesterday (July 13).

"All features of Hagia Sophia will be preserved. It will even be better preserved from now on," he told a press conference after a board meeting of the party.

Also, UNESCO officials should know that Turkey is open to any cooperation to preserve Hagia Sophia's universal heritage, Çelik added.

"We do not think that Hagia Sophia will be removed from the UNESCO cultural heritage list," he said, adding that Hagia Sophia is not honored with that list, rather the list is honored with Hagia Sophia.

"Hagia Sophia will continue to show its glory to all of humanity as a great place that carries the magnificence of the mosque and the cultural heritage of the universal world," he stressed.

On Friday (July 10), the Council of State annulled a 1934 Cabinet decree that had turned Hagia Sophia into a museum, paving the way for its use again as a mosque after an 85-year hiatus.

Missing refugee children in Europe

About a report by ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party Deputy Serap Yasar about missing refugee and migrant children in Europe presented to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Çelik said this issue was a "gaping wound" in Europe.

This report shows the number of missing refugee children in Germany between 2017 and 2019 stood at over 11,000, along with 6,000 in France, nearly 20,000 in Italy and over 9,000 in Spain.

These children are entrusted to all and an honor for humanity, Çelik stressed.

Based on the report, the total number of missing refugee children is estimated at around 100,000. (EKN/VK)