Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia Opens for Islamic Prayers

President turned it from museum to a mosque after court ruling
Move could cement support for ruling party among devout Turks

Worshipers pray outside during the opening ceremony to mark the first day of prayers at the Hagia Sophia mosque, in Istanbul, on July 24.Photographer: Kerem Uzel/Bloomberg

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By Cagan Koc

July 24, 2020 at 9:18 AM UTC

Updated on

July 24, 2020 at 12:21 PM UTC

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After a gap of nearly a century, Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia on Friday echoed with the sounds of Islamic prayer, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joining the faithful to witness the fulfillment of a move calculated to boost his popularity at home and in the broader Muslim world.