Hundreds of people joined the demonstration which concluded in Hagia Sophia mosque. Members of various non-governmental organisations gathered in Sultanahmet Square in order to demand to re-open the Hagia Sophia as a place of worship. Demonstrators were also strictly against the response to the capital punishment decision for the President of Egypt Mohammad Morsi.

Members of non-governmental organisations gathered together after the Zohar prayer at the rear of Sultanahmet mosque, with placards stating “Break the chains, unlock Hagia Sophia” and “Resist Morsi, Turkey is with you”.

The demonstration began with the music played by Mether marching band with major slogans which concluded at the arrival of Hagia Sophia; “Get out Sisi, we’re with you Morsi”, Resist Morsi, Turkey is with you”, “Islam is our strength, for it we can sacrifice our lives”, “Break the chains, unlock Hagia Sophia”.

Theologian Ihsan Senocak and journalist Adem Ozkose made a speech outside Hagia Sophia.

“Hagia Sophia should be unlocked as soon as possible”

Senocak underlined the importance of re-opening Hagia Sophia as a place of worship by stating, “Muslims from other states do not enter the Hagia Sophia. Do you know why? Because they know the words from Fatih Sultan Mehmet who clearly stated that ‘the curse of Allah and his angels shall be upon those who use the Hagia Sophia other than mosque purposes’. The Anatolian children say ‘if we enter the Hagia Sophia now, how will we ever face Fatih in the hereafter’. In order for Anatolian Muslims to enter here, Hagia Sophia must be reopened as a mosque.”

“We are the descendants of Iskilipli Mehmed Atif Hoca and Sheikh Said”

Journalist Adem Ozkese insisted that Hagia Sophia should be a place of worship for Muslims by also stating that, “Those who want to get rid of the Quran and the headscarf in this country, are those who closed Hagia Sophia. They replaced the crescents with their crosses. We are addressing to those who closed the Hagia Sophia, we are the descendants of Abdulhamid, whom you knocked down for not selling the lands of Palestine. We are the descendants of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, who turned Hagia Sophia into a mosque. We are the descendants of Iskilipli Mehmed Atif Hoca and Sheikh Said, who were sentenced to death. We are the descendants of Said Nursi, You have been speaking for years and now it’s our turn to speak.”

The demonstration was concluded with slogans. (ILKHA)