EU condemns Turkish decision to convert Hagia Sophia back to mosque

Foreign ministers of the European Union on Monday condemned the Turkish decision to convert Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia back to a mosque, saying that “will inevitably fuel mistrust, promote renewed divisions between religious communities and undermine efforts at dialogue and cooperation.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday denounced rising criticism over Ankara’s intention to convert the Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque, claiming that “The accusations against our country on the Hagia Sophia mean a direct attack on our sovereignty rights.”

“We will continue to protect the rights of Muslims, the dominant faith in our country, and those of other religions,” Erdogan said Friday in Istanbul.

Monday’s meeting was the first physical get-together of EU foreign ministers since the coronavirus pandemic. Turkey topped the agenda of the 27-member bloc, which reached “a consensus among member states that EU-Turkey relations were currently under strain because of worrying developments affecting the EU’s interests.”

The EU foreign ministers also called for what they say is “illegal” and “unilateral” drilling by Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean to stop and asked Turkey to contribute actively to a political solution in Libya and to respect the commitments it had taken, including the UN arms embargo.