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Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) MP Garo Paylan has asked the Parliament about the Hagia Sophia Church in Trabzon being destroyed and turned into a mosque
It was built in 1250
In the parliamentary question Paylan has submitted to be responded by Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, he has reminded that the Hagia Sophia constructed as a monastery in Trabzon by Manuel 1st between the years of 1250-1260 had first been changed into a museum in 1964 and later been handed over to the General Directorate for Foundations in 2013 and consequently turned into a mosque in 2013.
Frescos scratched out, carpets laid
It has been pointed out that Hagia Sophia which began to be used as a mosque had undergone some constructional changes including the introduction of a separate section exclusive for women by placing folding screens and pounding nails on the walls of the historical construction, that the new installation to make the use of Hagia Sophia further as a mosque was planted in a way which disrupted architectural integrity as well as an altar (Mosque mihrab) being placed in the construction, a wooden floor and carpets being paved on the 800-year-old mosaics and frescos being scratched out did also damage the historical structure of the monument.
Why turned into a mosque?
In this context, Paylan has asked;
1) Is this project planned as a restoration or is Hagia Sophia Church being designed to be permanently changed into a mosque?
2) Although there are already three mosques in the region, why has Hagia Sophia church been also turned into a mosque instead of being preserved as a historical monument.
3) Which grade of historical monument do the frescos scratched out from Hagia Sophia’s walls show?
4) Has there been any investigation launched into Hagia Sophia being destroyed beyond repair?
5) Does not changing a church into a museum first and into a mosque later contradict with the statements made by AKP Government with regards to returning minorities their assets back? (NV/DG)
