In recent days, the Hagia Sophia Mosque has again been at the center of controversy. The issue was related to the Ministry of Culture’s regulation of foreigners’ access to the Hagia Sophia Mosque. In a sudden turn of events, it was announced that non-Muslims would not be allowed into the main area of the mosque and could only enter the upper galleries for a fee. Why they were to be admitted to the upper galleries and what was wrong with their presence in the main area was not questioned much. The fact that foreigners had to pay was perhaps something that should have been implemented from the beginning…
However, an unexpected situation emerged with the introduction of the paid tariff on January 15th. Our citizens were not taken to the galleries even if they paid the same amount.
Mr. Talha Uğurluel was the first to raise this issue. The subject was indeed strange and even alarming!…
When these new regulations were being made, was only the issue of where and how foreigners could visit the galleries discussed? Was it never discussed whether Turks would be able to enter the galleries, and if so, how much they would have to pay?
It is unlikely that these issues were not on the agenda in a matter that has been planned for days at the Ministry of Culture. It would have been impossible for those who planned this work not to think about issues such as: “So what are we going to do when our citizens want to go to the galleries; will we not let them in; if we do, will it be paid or free; if it is paid, what will be the ticket price?”.
So there was definitely an intention here!… It was left to time. As far as I understand, our citizens were not wanted to go there. But because of the fear of reactions, a “wait and see” policy was put into practice.
In fact, it was a very dangerous initiative!… It would have serious drawbacks. After a while, these places, which were completely allocated to foreigners, would be perceived as being offered only to their initiative and even as their right. Before long, the words “downstairs is yours, upstairs is ours” would be heard and this would lead to Europeans embracing Hagia Sophia again.
Visitors would probably even start to perform rituals there in a short time. Indeed, as soon as this was discovered, some of them started to blather that “the Ottomans didn’t use the upper galleries as masjids either”!…
This is what they inferred from the fact that foreigners were allowed to visit the upper galleries in the late Ottoman period.
Because it was never the case that prayers could not be performed on the upper floors… Mehmed the Conqueror had devoted the Hagia Sophia as a mosque. How could there be matter as upstairs or downstairs to that?!
Dangerous similarity from 2012 to today!
In fact, this situation, which was wanted to be realized by the Ministry of Culture, was not new. Hagia Sophia was wanted to be brought to this state for maybe twenty years.
As a matter of fact, the breaking of Hagia Sophia’s shackles, its re-registration as a mosque by law, and the fact that Mr. President immediately put this into effect disturbed some local and foreign elements. Because someone had been preparing Hagia Sophia for a different purpose for many years. They were going to make Hagia Sophia the center of “Interfaith Dialogue”. This was a very important issue.
These recent developments remind me of efforts in this direction. Especially Prof. Dr. Mehmet Aydın, as Minister of State in charge of Religious Affairs, had been carrying out the “Interfaith Dialogue” project at full speed.
These were the days when rabbis, imams and priests were holding masses together all over the world under the organization of FETÖ. On the one hand, the construction of joint sanctuaries where churches, synagogues and mosques were intertwined had begun. Hagia Sophia would of course have its share of these projects and would even be the head of them.
As a matter of fact, the “Derin Tarih Magazine” brought this issue to the agenda with its publication. The magazine was published in its 3rd issue (June 2012) with the cover title “Who will save Hagia Sophia from hostage?”.
By looking at this title, do not think that they are calling on the Prime Minister of that day, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who will restore Hagia Sophia to its former identity. Because the authors of the Derin Tarih Magazine were engaged in “deep analysis”.
In that issue, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Akgündüz wrote an article titled “Why Hagia Sophia should be made a mosque again”. Do not assume from the title that he wants Hagia Sophia to act in accordance with its endowment! What he proposed as a solution was nothing but opening the door to “Interfaith Dialogue”. Akgündüz said, “In my opinion, the best solution is the one that comes from a European politician,” and he stated this politician’s proposal as follows:
“I think the main area should be opened for worship as a mosque, and the galleries should remain open to Christendom and the whole world. Thus, members of both religions will love Hagia Sophia.” Adopting this suggestion, Akgündüz continued: “If this is the case, some Christian governments will be satisfied…”
The solution offered by Ahmet Akgündüz was perhaps the first step of the “big knot”. It would also be the beginning of church services in Hagia Sophia. If you consider that at the same time mosques were filled with pews, you realize that the main area of the Hagia Sophia would soon resemble a church…
As a matter of fact, in the same issue, Mustafa Armağan, in an interview with Prof. Dr. Haluk Dursun, then head of the Hagia Sophia Museum, had asked him “Can Hagia Sophia be both a mosque and a museum?”. Haluk Dursun responded to this question by taking an even further step:
“I am saying one step further. There is also this thesis: Hagia Sophia can be opened for Muslims on Laylat al-Qadr and for Christians on Christmas. There would be no harm to its museum identity. It will continue as a museum. One night is chosen, and on that day, as I said, both Jesus and Moses features are emphasized…”
Mustafa Armağan would present these statements of Haluk Dursun, which show a deep delirium, as statements full of knowledge and wisdom(!).
In the same issue of Derin Tarih, Etyen Mahçupyan, who was once very popular in right-wing newspapers, joined the debate by saying, “I think Hagia Sophia should be used as a museum for four months, a mosque for four months and a church for four months.”
It seems that in 2012, our intellectuals had evolved on the Hagia Sophia issue. The debates initiated by Akgündüz, Armağan, Mahçupyan and Dursun were disturbing Mehmed the Conqueror in his grave.
Almost all of them were emphasizing almost the same point. This point was nothing other than the launching of the “Interfaith Dialogue” in Hagia Sophia.
Footsteps of ‘Interfaith Dialogue’ in Hagia Sophia!
After the July 15 invasion attempt failed, these ominous intentions were shelved. Subsequently, the 10th Chamber of the Council of State restored Hagia Sophia to its original status with an appropriate decision. Hagia Sophia’s status as a mosque, which should not change until doomsday, was once again registered. Our President approved it at that moment and put it into effect. Thus, the Hagia Sophia Mosque was freed from its shackles and returned to the Foundations and Diyanet.
However, these sudden decisions taken by the Ministry of Culture regarding the Hagia Sophia Mosque with the entrance of 2024 are really worrying!
What is the Ministry of Culture doing in Hagia Sophia in terms of its application and intended use? Does the Ministry of Culture have the freedom to use a corner of the Hagia Sophia Mosque as it wishes every day? In 1934, the Ministry of Education was playing the same role that the Ministry of Culture is playing today.
The Ministry of Culture should urgently answer the following questions:
-If everyone has to pay to enter the galleries, doesn’t it quietly become a museum?
-If Muslims can’t pray there even though they enter, doesn’t that undermine Hagia Sophia’s status as a mosque?
-At these prices, what will be accepted in the future if almost 99% only Christians will enter the site? What will be your attitude tomorrow when small-scale rituals start?
-If you turn Hagia Sophia into this today, what will you say tomorrow when others give them a license to hold services or use other parts of it for other purposes?
As a result, if a part of the Hagia Sophia is allocated to members of other religions permanently or at certain times, the foundation conditions of the Hagia Sophia Mosque will once again be violated… ‘Interfaith Dialogue’ will find a way… Mehmed the Conqueror’s bones will ache. His curse will be on those who do this…
I recommend the Minister of Culture to read the foundation of Fatih Sultan Mehmed Khan and the decision of the 10th Chamber of the Council of State once again…
In fact, the conclusion of the 10th Chamber of the Council of State’s decision on the Hagia Sophia Mosque should be gilded on a silver plaque and placed at the entrance of the mosque.
We expect Mr. President to stop this dangerous trend as soon as possible and completely abolish the Ministry of Culture’s right to dispose of mosques… The General Directorate of Foundations and the Directorate General of Religious Affairs both execute and inspect the use of endowed foundations in accordance with their endowments. No one has a monopoly on transforming foundations beyond their intended purpose. It is astonishing that the Directorate of Religious Affairs has not taken any initiative or intervened in this matter!
You can charge foreigners, and they can visit the temple in the main place outside prayer hours. As a matter of fact, the same situation is practiced in Süleymaniye, Selimiye and the Blue Mosque without charging any money.
The galleries section of Hagia Sophia should also be turned into a worship area in accordance with its foundation. It can also be allocated as a special worship area for women.
REFLECTION
But falsehood is always false and evil
The difficulty is that it comes out as true
Nef’î
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Şimşirgil
26th January 2024
Türkiye Gazetesi