Athens outraged as Ankara launches Koran readings at Hagia Sophia - Polidicks

[t]http://vid.alarabiya.net/images/2014/05/30/160ae191-71f9-4b6d-b5ef-5907d0bf802a/160ae191-71f9-4b6d-b5ef-5907d0bf802a_16x9_600x338.jpg[/t] [quote]Athens has protested to Turkey over its decision to allow a daily Koranic reading during Ramadan in the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, which for almost 1,000 years was the biggest Greek Orthodox Christian church in the world. In one of the stiffest diplomatic rebukes from Athens to Ankara in recent years, the Greek foreign ministry called Turkey’s decision to allow the readings at the UN world heritage site, which is officially designated as a museum, “regressive”, “verging on bigotry” and “not compatible with modern, democratic and secular societies”. The recitals, which began on Monday, are being broadcast on Turkish television.[/quote] source: [url]http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/greek-fury-over-muslim-prayers-in-hagia-sophia-qsfx5wnkx[/url] [url]https://www.rt.com/news/345782-koran-hagia-sophia-greece/[/url] Erdogan's response: [quote]Turkey has brushed off Greek criticism of a daily reading from the Quran in Hagia Sophia in Istanbul as “unacceptable,” urging the government in Athens “to respect… other religions.”[/quote] [url]http://www.ekathimerini.com/209422/article/ekathimerini/news/turkey-rebuffs-greek-criticism-of-quran-recitals-in-hagia-sophia[/url] [url]http://greece.greekreporter.com/2016/06/08/turkey-reacts-to-greeces-condemnation-of-turning-hagia-sophia-into-mosque/[/url]

[quote] urging the government in Athens “to respect… other religions.” [/quote] That's fucking rich.

Hagia Sophia has been under the control of many religions to this day. It's hard to blame those who now control it to not use it to their will. Hell, the Ottoman architecture has inspired the architecture of modern day mosques.

[QUOTE=BuffaloBill;50480334]That's fucking rich.[/QUOTE] accepting other religions is great, but reading the quran at a christian world heritage site is one of the most scummy things you could even concieve of doing

[QUOTE=MaximLaHaxim;50480374]accepting other religions is great, but reading the quran at a christian world heritage site is one of the most scummy things you could even concieve of doing[/QUOTE] It really isn't at all.

[QUOTE=Bradyns;50480366]Hagia Sophia has been under the control of many religions to this day. It's hard to blame those who now control it to not use it to their will. Hell, the Ottoman architecture has inspired the architecture of modern day mosques.[/QUOTE] In fact, it is a christian church from the Byzantine Empire era that was taken over and turned into a mosque.

The Hagia Sophia is a mosque so I don't understand what the problem is. Sure, it was a Christian church at one point, but it hasn't been one since the fall of Constantinople.

[QUOTE=Taepodong-2;50480419]The Hagia Sophia is a mosque so I don't understand what the problem is. Sure, it was a Christian church at one point, but it hasn't been one since the fall of Constantinople.[/QUOTE] The Hagia Sophia is a museum and has been one since 1935. Not to mention it's a public building owned by what is supposed to be a secular government.

[QUOTE=!LORD M!;50480409]In fact, it is a christian church from the Byzantine Empire era that was taken over and turned into a mosque.[/QUOTE] And then it was converted into a museum with the secularization of the country in the 1930s. And now the government is actively pushing to [URL="http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/popes-remarks-to-accelerate-hagia-sophias-conversion-into-mosque.aspx?PageID=238&NID=81128&NewsCatID=338"]convert it back[/URL] [URL="http://www.ibtimes.com/hagia-sophia-mosque-conversion-turkey-pope-backlash-could-open-historic-church-muslim-1885464"]into a mosque[/URL], matching the recent pattern of Islamification of the country by Erdogan's party, the AKP. I find it disturbing that this push is happening, since Turkey (or any other nation for that matter) reverting back to being non-secular is only going to further destabilize global politics.

Justinian continues to roll in his grave

[QUOTE=Bradyns;50480366]Hagia Sophia has been under the control of many religions to this day. It's hard to blame those who now control it to not use it to their will. [B]Hell, the Ottoman architecture has inspired the architecture of modern day mosques.[/B][/QUOTE] Don't you mean Byzantine architecture? The Hagia Sophia was built by Justinian, and remained a Christian church until the fall of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks in 1453. To call it "Ottoman architecture" is absurd and frankly insulting to the original builders.

Wasn't the Hagia Sophia suppose to be getting support from the UN to convert some of it back into a church? Because seriously, with the way things are going, it seems like Turkey is about to go full-retard and start painting black and gold over the mosaics of Christ, again.

[QUOTE=elfbarf;50480436]The Hagia Sophia is a museum and has been one since 1935. Not to mention it's a public building owned by what is supposed to be a secular government.[/QUOTE] It's this. They're supposed to be a secular government and it's just damn out of taste.

[QUOTE=Bradyns;50480366]Hagia Sophia has been under the control of many religions to this day. It's hard to blame those who now control it to not use it to their will. Hell, the Ottoman architecture has inspired the architecture of modern day mosques.[/QUOTE] The only ottoman architecture is the minarets. iirc

[QUOTE=Bradyns;50480366]Hagia Sophia has been under the control of many religions to this day. It's hard to blame those who now control it to not use it to their will. Hell, the Ottoman architecture has inspired the architecture of modern day mosques.[/QUOTE] Ottoman/islam architecture where inspired by the domes from Eastern Orthodox church architecture which originated from the byzantine empire, And I am pretty sure it was created in the time of the byzantine empire by the byzantine's which where Christianity/Eastern Orthodox Very easy and common misconception that domes = islam. That building has stood tall for 1479 years, If isis was there it would not be standing.

IDK but the minarets add a rad look to it A shame the retards a couple of hundred years ago applied a coat of white painting on the interior....so as to say....

Religiously, as a Christian, I don't really care. Buildings hold zero relevance to me. I'm more worried about the continued persecution of Christians in the area. Politically, I see it as just another sign of the worrying islamification of Turkey.