Ankara should not use Hagia Sofia for polarization: Former PM Davutoglu

Political narrow-mindedness or a matter of sovereignty – debates rage across the globe attempting to expose the intent of President Erdogan’s decision to change the status of Istanbul’s 1,500-year-old landmark

New Delhi: While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to reject international condemnation over the decision to change the status of Istanbul’s landmark, Hagia Sophia, from a museum to a mosque, claiming it represented Ankara’s will to use its ‘sovereign rights’, criticism against his decision continues to grow even in the domestic front.

Echoing with the voices of the millions around the world, Turkey’s former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has warned the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) over using the emblematic monument as a tool for ‘polarization.’

“This is a politically very sensitive issue. The use of religious symbols as a source of polarization must be opposed. The government should not use it even as political leverage or a negotiation card. They must not use it as an issue between Muslims and Christians, or present it as a fight between two religions,” Davutoglu said while responding to a question raised during the inaugural event for the Middle East Institute Turkish studies program – Voices From Turkish Politics series, on Monday.

Constructed 1,500 years-ago, Hagia Sophia or the Church of Holy Wisdom was an Orthodox Christian cathedral, which was converted into a mosque after the Ottomans conquered Constantinople, now Istanbul, in 1453. In 1934, the secular Turkish government under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk decreed that it be turned into a museum.

On 10 July, Erdogan formally converted the building back into a mosque and declared it open for Muslim worship; hours after a high court annulled the 1934 decision turning it into a museum. Ankara’s chieftain announced that Muslim prayers would begin at the UNESCO world heritage site on 24 July.

Directing that a mere revival of status does not change the main character of a building, Davutoglu appealed to the Erdogan-led government to officially provide necessary assurances to the international community, instead of choosing to repudiate all responsibilities.

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“He (Erdogan) must convey in a rational manner that all the characters of Hagia Sofia will be preserved. The government must convince that the decision will not affect the visits of Christians or foreigners to the site,” Davutoglu said.

Citing the fact that religious symbols and legislatures have at times become the source of polarization in the region, aiding the growth of autocratic tendencies due to the psychology of masses, he claimed that Ankara’s main opposition party did not oppose the agenda even as it was presented to them in May.

“Even I did not oppose, instead we told the government that they should not use it as political leverage trying to polarize the society,” Davutoglu said, stressing that Turkey has suffered a lot due to religious, conservative, and psychological polarizations.

Leader of the Future Party, Davutoglu, however, claimed that he endorses the decision of changing the status of the Byzantine architectural masterwork as a mosque, because it is the ruling of Ankara’s court. “It is also because it is the decision of the government, but I especially criticize the language and the theory of using religious issues as political leverage,” Davutoglu said. 

He forewarned that the government must not use the issue of Hagia Sofia to overshadow from all other pressing problems. According to the former Foreign Minister, Turkey is facing many unprecedented problems including democratization, absence of academic freedom, media freedom, economic crisis, unemployment amid the pandemic.

Defending Ankara’s decree on the architectural masterpiece, Ibrahim Kalin, spokesperson for Turkish President Erdogan took on Twitter as he posted, ‘All visitors will have access to the religious and cultural heritage of Hagia Sophia including icons and mosaics. Any claim to the contrary is simply false.’

Rebutting allegations of a crumbling domestic economy and failed COVID-19 relief measures, Kalin in an interview to a local news channel said that there is no regret on part of Ankara’s leadership even as its decision threatens Turkey’s international relations.

“The decision was made by keeping in mind the demands of Turkish people. Even as this place will now function as a Muslim house of worship, the doors will remain open for all, we are not limiting anyone from visiting it,” Kalin was quoted.

Putting forth a strong legal and practical stance, Senior Fellow of the Cato Institute, Mustafa Akyol responding to tweet advocating the decision of Ankara posted ‘If you argue that “conquerors may justly do as they please with the houses of worship of the conquered,” then what will you say if Israel “decides tomorrow to raze Masjid al-Aqsa & build a Jewish temple”?’

Meanwhile, continuing to express deep regrets at Ankara’s decision, UNESCO said that it hopes President Erdogan patches up the communication link with them, even as the world body plans to contests the move to change the status of the heritage site.

“There were no consultations, prior discussions, or dialogues on this development. The implications of their decision must be discussed now. Thus, we call upon the Turkish administration to reestablish the dialogue with us without any further delay,” Matthieu Guevel, Department of Public Information, UNESCO said.