The first Friday prayer has been performed in Hagia Sophia Mosque after a court ruling paved the way for it to become a mosque.
Erdogan recited an excerpt from the holy Quran ahead of the prayer.
On July 10, 2020, Turkey's Council of State annulled the Cabinet's 1934 decision to establish the museum, revoking the monument's status, and a subsequent decree of the President of Turkey ordered the reclassification of Hagia Sophia as a mosque.
The mosque will be open to visitors outside prayer times and its Christian icons will remain, according to Turkish officials. (ILKHA)