Istanbul's Hagia Sophia opens as a mosque for Muslim prayers
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Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, centre, takes part in Friday prayers in Hagia Sophia, at the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, July 24, 2020. Fulfilling a dream of his Islamic-oriented youth, Erdogan joined hundreds of worshipers for the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (Turkish Presidency via AP, Pool)A Greek oprthodox priest holds a Greek flag outside Athens' Cathedral as Greek Orthodox Church leader, Archbishop Ieronymos, helds a special service on Friday, July 24, 2020. In Greece, bells tolled and flags flew at half-staff at hundreds of churches across the country in protest at the decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)Muslims pray during Friday prayers at the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, near the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, background, Friday, July 24, 2020. Thousands of Muslim faithful surrounded Istanbul's landmark monument Friday to take part in the first prayers in 86 years at the structure that was once Christendom's most significant cathedral and the "jewel" of the Byzantine Empire then a mosque and museum before its re-conversion into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (AP Photo/Yasin Akgul)People pray inside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, during afternoon prayers, in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, July 24, 2020. Worshipers earlier held the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (AP Photo/Omer Kuscu)Congregants light candles as Greek Orthodox Church leader, Archbishiop Ieronymos, holds a special service at Athens Cathedral on Friday, July 24, 2020. In Greece, bells tolled and flags flew at half-staff at hundreds of churches across the country in protest at the decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)Imams read sermons as Friday as dignitaries including Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan take part in Friday prayers in Hagia Sophia, at the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, July 24, 2020. Fulfilling a dream of his Islamic-oriented youth, Erdogan joined hundreds of worshipers for the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (Turkish Presidency via AP, Pool)Women pray inside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, during afternoon prayers, in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, July 24, 2020. Worshipers earlier held the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (AP Photo/Yasin Akgul)People pray inside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, during afternoon prayers, in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, July 24, 2020. Worshipers earlier held the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (AP Photo/Yasin Akgul)People pray inside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, during afternoon prayers, in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, July 24, 2020. Worshipers earlier held the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (AP Photo/Omer Kuscu)People walk inside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia following the inaugural Friday prayers, in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, July 24, 2020. Worshipers held the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (AP Photo/Yasin Akgul)People pray inside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, during afternoon prayers, in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, July 24, 2020. Worshipers earlier held the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (AP Photo/Yasin Akgul)A man draped in a Turkish flag, stands as people walk inside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia following the inaugural Friday prayers, in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, July 24, 2020. Worshipers held the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (AP Photo/Yasin Akgul)In this combo of photos, a gold-coloured mosaic, top, that depicts The Virgin Mary and Jesus is seen inside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, Oct. 15, 2010, while on the bottom photo, the mosaic is covered with sail-like drapes, following the inaugural Friday prayers, Friday, July 24, 2020. Mosaics depicting Christian figures were covered, in line with Islamic traditions that bar the depiction of figures. Worshipers held the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel/Yasin Akgul)An imam reads from the Quran, Islams holy book, as dignitaries including Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan take part in Friday prayers in Hagia Sophia, at the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, July 24, 2020. Fulfilling a dream of his Islamic-oriented youth, Erdogan joined hundreds of worshipers for the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (Turkish Presidency via AP, Pool)A man waves a Turkish flag outside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, July 24, 2020. Hundreds of Muslim faithful were making their way to Istanbul's landmark monument Friday to take part in the first prayers in 86 years at the structure that was once Christendom's most significant cathedral and the "jewel" of the Byzantine Empire then a mosque and museum before its re-conversion into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (AP Photo/Omer Kuscu)Muslims pray during Friday prayers at the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, near the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, background, Friday, July 24, 2020. Thousands of Muslim faithful surrounded Istanbul's landmark monument Friday to take part in the first prayers in 86 years at the structure that was once Christendom's most significant cathedral and the "jewel" of the Byzantine Empire then a mosque and museum before its re-conversion into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (AP Photo/Yasin Akgul)Faithful wait at the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, outside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, Friday, July 24, 2020. Hundreds of Muslim faithful were making their way to Istanbul's landmark monument Friday to take part in the first prayers in 86 years at the structure that was once Christendom's most significant cathedral and the "jewel" of the Byzantine Empire then a mosque and museum before its re-conversion into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (AP Photo/Yasin Akgul)People use their mobile phones to take pictures inside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, July 24, 2020. Worshipers earlier held the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (AP Photo/Omer Kuscu)People take part in a rally against the decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque, in central Athens on Friday, July 24, 2020. In Greece, bells tolled and flags flew at half-staff at hundreds of churches across the country in protest at the decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Turkish Presidency
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, centre, takes part in Friday prayers in Hagia Sophia, at the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Friday, July 24, 2020. Fulfilling a dream of his Islamic-oriented youth, Erdogan joined hundreds of worshipers for the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship. The conversion of the edifice, has led to an international outcry. (Turkish Presidency via AP, Pool)