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presentation of the cultural and natural
heritage situated on its territory”.

When Hagia Sophia was declared a
mosque, some major changes were
proposed for the heritage site. It was
decided that the Christian mosaics are
covered with lights and other “special
light mapping technologies” in order
to replace and hide the original designs
of the erstwhile Church in order to
make it “fit” for Islamic prayers. This
Pres. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdogan
aspect of making numerous changes in
Decorated in contrasting colored and the building’s invaluable mosaic the original design fails to ensure the
marbles brought from all parts of the decorations. By restricting access to safety of the treasures of orthodoxy as
Mediterranean, the entire interior Istanbul’s greatest historical legacy, well as prevents it from being displayed
surface of Hagia Sophia glowed Erdogan assaults the cosmopolitan and showcased to the world.
with golden and silver mosaics that traditions that make the city and
reflected the light flooding in through Turkey itself a crossroads for the Moreover, covering the artwork with
its many windows. world. It is an act of cultural cleansing. lights and special light mapping
technologies compromises the
Justinian’s original church had one The identity of Hagia Sophia lies structural grandeur as a church. The
internal decoration: a monumental, in its representation as a model of light effects would hide the majesty
glittering cross in the dome, now secularism. It narrates a different story of the mosaics, the turquoise carpet
removed. In the late ninth century, for every religion and community. and the dome’s magnificence of Hagia
figural mosaics were added: the Virgin For nationalist Turks, Hagia Sophia Sophia, one of the greatest architectural
and Child in the main apse, with the is a trophy, a piece of real estate to do achievements known to mankind.
archangels Michael and Gabriel on with as they please in the belief that
either side. Later rulers, including ownership of the former symbol of The changes which are to be made
the Empress Zoe, commemorated Christianity is now their sovereign through carpets and chandeliers
themselves with beautiful gold mosaic right. For Greeks of Constantinople, are in violation of Articles 4 and 5
portraits and Christian icons. Hagia Sophia’s desecration is the of the Convention Concerning the
epitome of slavery. Protection of World Cultural and
The great church established the Natural Heritage. The alteration to the
standard. When the Arabs broke out Turkey ratified the UNESCO World presentation dims the portrayal of the
of the deserts to proclaim the faith of Heritage Convention in 1983. Hagia
Islam, they modeled their first mosques Sophia is listed as a World Heritage heritage site and pointedly suppresses
on the Christian domes pioneered by Site under that Convention. At the its Christian architecture.
the Byzantines. So when the Turkish time, UNESCO Director-General Unfortunately, Turkey doesn’t seem to
Sultan Mehmet II breached the triple Audrey Azoulay noted Hagia Sophia’s be bothered by the implication of its
walls and rode into Constantinople status as a museum reflecting the violation of international law, just as
in May 1453, he could order the universal nature of its heritage and a it has ignored as a secular state. The
symbol of the city, Hagia Sophia, to powerful symbol for dialogue. decision taken by Turkey will have
be transformed into a mosque rather Article 4 of the Convention Concerning socio-political ramifications that will
than destroying it. disrupt the fundamentals of the UN’s
the Protection of World Cultural
Under Islamic law, the figural mosaics and Natural Heritage stipulates that cooperation and peace model.
were either removed or plastered over, each State Party “recognizes that the The Hagia Sophia museum was a
a huge loss and a warning of what duty of ensuring the identification, symbol of unity and tolerance and
might happen again. Indeed, while protection, conservation, presentation a confluence between the European
Turkish officials on Friday promised and transmission to future generations Christian World and the Muslim
the mosaics won’t be removed, on of the cultural and natural heritage World to through to the Middle
Monday they announced that they will referred to in Articles 1 and 2 and East. The change of its status impairs
be covered by curtains or lasers during situated on its territory, belongs Turkey’s position as a secular state and
Muslim prayers. primarily to that State.” Article 5 tolerant society. This change of status
To turn the unrivaled building back obliges State Parties “[t]o ensure that has implications beyond the physical
into a place of worship threatens effective and active measures are taken preservation of the monument to the
open access to a magnificent structure for the protection, conservation and perception of Turkey as an evolving

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