It is a symbolic visit, a week after the controversial conversion of the former Hagia Sophia, in Istanbul, into a mosque. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the religious building on Sunday July 19 for a brief inspection of the works inside the building, the presidency said.

Ayasofya ... pic.twitter.com/SqXRX3N5WG

- Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) July 19, 2020

The surprise visit of the Turkish head of state comes a few days before the first Muslim prayer in Hagia Sophia since his retraining, scheduled for Friday. It is not yet clear whether Recep Tayip Erdogan will take part.

>> To read: The Hagia Sophia, the "wonder of wonders" with three lives

Last week, the highest administrative court in Turkey revoked a 1934 government decision granting Hagia Sophia museum status. As soon as this decision was made public, President Erdogan announced the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

According to the Religious Affairs Authority (Diyanet), 500 people will participate in the first collective prayer on Friday inside Hagia Sophia. The Christian icons that decorate the interior of the ancient Byzantine basilica will be hidden during prayer time, according to the Diyanet.

A major architectural work built in the 6th century, Hagia Sophia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the main tourist attractions in Istanbul. Converted into a mosque after the capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453, it was transformed into a museum in 1934 by the leader of the young Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal, who wanted to "give it to humanity".

The decision to restore it to Muslim worship has drawn criticism abroad, notably in Greece, a country which closely follows the fate of the Byzantine heritage in Turkey. Pope Francis said he was "very distressed" by this reconversion.

With AFP

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