“Loving Istanbul means loving the entire humanity with all its colors, faiths cultures, and dispositions. Indeed, it is so arduous, but also so glorious, a mission to serve a city that is loved this much,” Erdoğan said.

Describing the conquest of Istanbul in 1453 as a critical turning point in Turkish history, Erdoğan highlighted the importance of reopening the Hagia Sophia, a symbol of the conquest, as a mosque. (ILKHA)