One Big Thing: Does changing the Hagia Sophia from a museum to a mosque limit religious freedom in Turkey?

What is it?

• On July 10th, Turkish President Erodgan signed a decree which switched the Hagia Sophia from a museum to a mosque. 
• This reverses the 1934 decree, which made the Hagia Sophia into a museum, under the rule of Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. 
• Hagia Sophia is now open to Muslisms and non-Muslims for prayer 

Why is it important?

• The Hagia Sophia carries an important and complex historical and religious significance for Muslisms and Christians. In the Byzantine empire, it was a cathedral for Christians and there are still remnants of Christian icons in this monument. The cathedral was later converted into a mosque by the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. 
• Turning the Hagia Sophia into a mosque was widely criticized by global and religious leaders and organizations, such as UNESCO and Pope Francis. 
• This move also made Hagia Sophia a non-secular monument, catering to Turkey’s Muslisms over it’s other religious minorities.  

What can you do?

• Learn more about the Hagia Sophia’s history