https://news.sky.com/story/hagia-sop...iumph-12025607
Hagia Sophia: Istanbul monument to become a mosque again as Turkish Islamic conservatives triumph
Hagia Sophia has witnessed many upheavals in its 1,500 year history, evolving from a cathedral to a mosque, then a museum. In a landmark decision, Turkey's high court has ruled that its conversion into a museum in 1934 was unlawful - paving the way for the most visited monument in the country to be converted back to an Islamic place of worship.
The move, which threatens to upset Christians around the world, is not about creating more space for prayer as Istanbul has more than 3,000 mosques. Rather, the decision reflects the wider societal struggle within Turkey between secularism and
President Erdogan's religious conservatism.
The usual crowd of tourists was absent as the announcement came, but the predominantly Turkish media gathered outside Hagia Sophia.
Turkish officials have said opening Hagia Sophia to prayer will not stop tourists from visiting the site and have offered reassurance that the building's Christian icons will be preserved. However, historian Zeynep Ahunbay, who has worked on the conservation of Hagia Sophia for 27 years, doesn't see how that will be possible.