Turkey suggests opening Hagia Sophia to Muslim worshippers on weekdays and to Christians on SundayOctober 6, 2010 - 14:35 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Recent suggestion of Istanbul-based Islamic Research Center Professor sparked an argument in Istanbul. The head of the Istanbul-based Islamic Research Center (ISAM), Professor Mehmet Akif Aydin, has suggested that Hagia Sophia be opened to Muslim worshippers on weekdays and to Christians on Sunday. A former Byzantine church and then Ottoman mosque in Istanbul, Hagia Sophia is currently open as a museum. The Culture and Tourism Ministry has been under growing criticism both in Turkey and abroad for not allowing worshippers inside Hagia Sophia. Aydin also said Hagia Sophia would stand as the first example of religions coexisting in one space if his proposal is realized, according to Today’s Zaman. The compromise is hardly able to put an end to arguments around the issue. However, Aydin’s suggestion came as an unbelievable innovation on the background of Turkish authorities’ recent statements on the inviolability of Hagia Sophia’s museum status, sedmitza.ru orthodox website reported. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |