Alexandros Lordos wrote:For me, it represents neither. It's just a Christian shrine, we shouldn't confuse religion with national identity.
By the way Alex,
It is very interesting that after being used as a mosque for close to 500 years by Ottomans, many muslims in Turkey see it as a mosque not a church.
The church turned mosque turned museum after 1923 when Ataturk wanted to curn down the effect of Islam on Turkish society as many extreme muslims see Hagia Sophia as the monument of how Turks captured Istanbul and turned a previously a Christian city turned into the capital of Islam (kind of reverse crusade).
And even in today world in Turkey, there are those parties that take those roots from Islam that clearly wants to turn back the museum into mosque.
So that Hagia Sophia turning back to either a church or a mosque is a very controvorsial debate in Turkey and many secular are dead against it.
Ataturk kind of did what should be done in Jerusalem right now. Say that this piece of property is neither a church or a mosque. Or in Jerusalems case say this piece of land is neither holly to Jews, to Christians, or to Muslims.
Just an extra info for you,
Take care
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:01 pm
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