Built in the 6th century and transformed into a museum in the 1930s, the Hagia Sophia, probably the most famous monument in Istanbul, has once again become a mosque. With this controversial transformation, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sends a strong message to the Russians and tries to impose his leadership on the Sunni world.

DECRYPTION

The will of the Turkish authorities was an open secret, their decision is now official: the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is no longer a museum, it has officially become a mosque again. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan authorized the return of Muslim prayers inside this enclosure built under the Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, and which had already served as a mosque from the middle of the 15th century until the 1930s. , the Turkish head of state addresses his constituents but also sends a message across borders.

Why is the reconversion of Hagia Sophia primarily a political gesture?

Implicitly, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan first addresses Russia. Because Ankara and Moscow are opposed in a struggle for influence in the Middle East and the Balkans. However, the Hagia Sophia is considered sacred by the Orthodox. Returning it to Muslim worship is a way for the Turkish President to walk on the flowerbeds of the Patriarch of Moscow and indirectly of the Kremlin.

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What message does Erdogan send to Muslims?

At the same time, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan takes the opportunity to assert his stature in the eyes of the Muslim world. It's no secret that he sees himself as the leader of the Sunni world. Political Islam is a tool to restore its image in this section of the Muslim world. But as usual, the Turkish president never loses sight of the gains he can make internally. Hagia Sophia, in addition to being the showcase of the country, is at the heart of the city of Istanbul, the true economic capital of Turkey. If the city escaped the party of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the last municipal elections, he hopes to bring back to him the voters of the city. At the risk, however, of losing a few foreign visitors even if the place remains open to non-Muslims, and especially the international aura of the place.

Should we expect an international response?

Washington expressed disappointment with the conversion on Saturday. France also deplored this transformation. Jean-Yves Le Drian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs estimated that making Hagia Sophia a mosque "called into question one of the most symbolic acts of modern and secular Turkey". For its part, UNESCO could review the status of the building previously registered on the World Heritage List of Humanity.