Istanbul's historic Hagia Sophia has reopened for Friday prayers for the first time since a decision was made to turn it back into a mosque after more than 80 years as a museum.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered the sixth century building's conversion back to a mosque earlier this month after a court annulled the 1934 presidential decree that made it a museum. The decision, involving one of the city's most important landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been criticized by international religious and political leaders, with UN cultural agency UNESCO among those voicing concern.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan poses for a photo with his wife Emine Erdogan during a visit to inspect the Hagia Sophia mosque on the eve of its reopening to worship.Erdogan has positioned himself as a friend of conservative Islamists in Turkey, moving the country further from those secularist roots.UNESCO said earlier this month that it"deeply regrets" Turkey's decision and that the choice was made without the organization receiving prior notification.
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