Erdogan Gifts Plaque with Verses from Quran to Hagia Sophia Mosque
The plaque which was made by Turkish artist Mehmet Ozcay, was placed on a wall near the pulpit, the Greek City Times reported.
The first official prayers at Istanbul's Hagia Sophia complex took place in July after it was converted back into a mosque. Thousands flocked to the site to attend the prayers including Erdogan.
The iconic site, now officially known as the Great Mosque of Ayasofya, was constructed in the 6th century AD as a cathedral, during the Byzantine Empire, but was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453.
In 1934, Turkey’s cabinet declared it a museum. However, on July 10 this year, Turkey’s Council of State, which is the highest administrative court in the country, annulled the 1934 decision, saying the move had been unlawful.
