After an energetic election campaign, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan concluded his activities by attending the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul, where he offered evening prayers.

The citizens eagerly awaited his arrival, their excitement filling the air with the sound of takbirs. Following the prayer, the recitation of Surah Fatah took place within the mosque.

On July 10, 2020, a Turkish court nullified a 1934 Cabinet decree that had converted Hagia Sophia into a museum, allowing it to be used as a mosque once again after a dormant period of 86 years.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, accompanied by a massive crowd overflowing into the neighboring streets, participated in the reestablishment ceremony of Hagia Sophia as a mosque. The Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), with the Istanbul Muftiate responsible for overseeing religious services at the mosque, adorned Hagia Sophia with prayer carpets for the Muslim worshippers.

While the mosque remains open to individuals of different faiths, its primary function is to serve as a place of worship for Muslims. (ILKHA)

https://ilkha.com/english/latest/turkiye-to-hold-presidential-and-parliamentary-elections-on-sunday-328871