Images of dust, litter, and garbage are prevalent at the Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO world heritage site that was converted into a Mosque by the Erdogan government two years ago.
New photos and videos are emerging on Turkish social networks, illustrating the abandonment of the holy site after its conversion into a mosque, in 2020.
The photos are accompanied by comments from users against the competent Turkish authorities, who can not protect the monument, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The vandalism of the Imperial Door in Constantinople’s Hagia Sophia provoked the reaction of Greece, with the Foreign Ministry calling for those responsible to be held accountable, which the Turkish media referred to today, following the denunciation of the Turkish Association of Art History on Tuesday, which caused a sensation. A statement from the Foreign Ministry stated that “the Turkish authorities are” disgusted and saddened “by the incident and called on the Turkish authorities to “bring to justice those responsible for the acts of vandalism”.
The General Directorate of Vakufia has already announced that it is launching an investigation into the vandalism to identify the perpetrators, while the General Secretary of the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul, Mahir Polat, requested the intervention of the Prosecutor. “The person or persons responsible should be identified by the cameras. The issue must reach the Prosecutor’s Office, according to article 65 of Law 2863, since the damages concern a historic building of the 1st degree and were caused intentionally”, commented Polat, on his personal Twitter account.
In the last few hours, photos and videos of decaying images in Hagia Sophia have been posted on Turkish social networks, with a variety of comments. A video from last December shows damage to the interior walls of the building, just behind the imperial gate, which has since seen signs of vandalism.
Diyanet’e bağlanarak ibadete açılan Ayasofya’dan paylaşılan görüntüler sosyal medyada gündem oldu. pic.twitter.com/6kIVsI3por
— 🎙 Muhbir – #YeniHesap (@ajans_muhbir) April 19, 2022
Ayasofya girişinin arkasındaki duvarlara da vura vura büyük delikler açılmış. Aynı kapısı gibi kırılmış. Onlarca güvenlik görevlisi ve diyanet sadece insanların girerken başı açık mı diye bakıyor ama duvarlara ne olduğunu soruyorum hiçbiri bilmiyor @nevsinmengu @cuneytozdemir pic.twitter.com/UUBiFA1TlR
— Dilek Camurcu (@dilek_camurcu) December 17, 2021
Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami Şerifi 1890…#seriat#Ayasofya
İnnâ lillahi ve İnnâ İleyhi Raciûn pic.twitter.com/vQ4zTfK2km— Sinan (@suntakinte007) April 19, 2022
