Turkey to convert ancient Istanbul church into a mosque despite huge backlash

It is the Turkish president’s second major conversion, having turned the world-renowned Hagia Sophia from a museum to a mosque in 2020.

Erdogan discussed the conversion in a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, whilst on a trip that was intended to strengthen relations between the two countries.

“The Kariye mosque in its new form will remain open to everyone,” Erdogan told a news conference alongside Mitsotakis.

“We have opened our Kariye mosque for worship and visits after painstaking restoration work.”

However, the Greek leader was not a fan of the transformation and has since appealed the decision, describing it as “unnecessary” and an insult.

“I discussed with Erdogan the conversion... I expressed my dissatisfaction to him,” Mitsotakis said after the meeting.

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“It is very important to preserve the unique cultural value of this monument, which is listed as Unesco world heritage, so that it can remain accessible to all visitors.”

The building, now known as the Chora, but previously called the Church of the Holy Saviour, dates back to the 4th century and was turned into a mosque by the Ottomans. In 1945, it became a museum, which holds a World Heritage List-inscribed status.

In 2020, Erdogan signed an order converting it back into a mosque, and for four years, the museum remained shut as it underwent restoration work.

Political leaders across Greece had previously urged Mitsotakis to cancel the meeting with Erdogan with Nikos Androulakis, the leader of Greece’s socialist party, saying: “There is no way that I would go. This is a provocation.”

The Greek Orthodox Church has described the move as an “ill-advised decision” that “makes a mockery of the Turkish government’s commitment to religious tolerance and religious freedom”.

The conversion also rattled the US, with the State Department calling on Turkey to preserve its status as a museum and allow access to all visitors.

“We are aware that the Chora Museum, a World Heritage Site, has been reopened as a mosque, and we refer you to the Turkish government for further details,” a spokesperson for the State Department said.

“We encourage the Turkish government to preserve and ensure access to sites and buildings that have hosted different religious communities in a way that respects their diverse histories,” the spokesperson added.

Ferdy Simon, a British tourist, said he would have preferred the building to remain as a museum so that people could see the mosaics and frescoes there. “It seems to be a political gambit,” he said.

“It's a bit of a shame when you see devout women who have come here to pray and they are told they can't go into the main narthex area,” he added, speaking outside the Chora.

However, Ugur Gokgoz, a Turkish man who came to pray, said it was his and his people’s right to use it as a mosque. “There was a small section reserved for prayer. At the end, they didn't tear everything down and turned it into a mosque,” he said.