After Hagia Sophia has been transformed into a mosque again, Turkey’s president has vowed to “liberate Al-Aqsa mosque” from Israel, reported The New Arab.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the comments in an Arabic statement after “resurrecting Hagia Sophia” on Friday. The Turkish Presidency website said in a Turkish statement: “The resurrection of Hagia Sophia is the footsteps of the will of Muslims across the world to come… the resurrection of Hagia Sophia is the reignition of the fire of hope of Muslims and all oppressed, wrong, downtrodden and exploited.”
However, the Arabic translation of the same statement suggests Turkey’s Hagia Sophia move is part of the “return of freedom to Al-Aqsa” from Israel, the report added.
On Friday, Mr. Erdogan announced Muslim prayers on 24 July at the UNESCO World Heritage site, transforming the iconic landmark from a museum to a mosque after numerous attempts over the years.