Don't politicise the Hagia SophiaAfter it was designated as a museum in 1936 by the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Hagia Sophia took on a different meaning. Why did the government, under Mr Erdogan, feel compelled to bring up the issue? In order to see this, one must first understand Mr Erdogan himself. The Hagia Sophia belongs to Turkey -- not humanity. By taking that stance, Mr Erdogan is effectively reducing the significance of the Hagia Sophia, which for over a millennium served as the symbolic centre for both a bulwark of Christendom and the gatekeepers of Mecca.

Source: Bangkok Post July 18, 2020 21:32 UTC