Turkey's Decision on Hagia Sophia's Status Unaffected by Other Countries' Opinions, Says Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on Saturday that the opinions of other countries will not change Ankara's decision to convert the Hagia Sophia from a museum to a mosque.

“Turkey has made the decision to change the status of Hagia Sophia from a museum to a mosque based on the desire and will of the people. The opinions of other countries cannot influence our decision,” Erdoğan's words were quoted by Anadolu.

On Friday, Turkey's State Council, the country's highest administrative court, annulled the 1934 decision to turn Hagia Sophia into a museum. Immediately thereafter, President Tayyip Erdoğan stated that he had signed a decree to convert the church into a mosque and to begin Islamic services there.