Greek Ministry of Culture: Turkey can be culturally isolated due to Sophia

Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni. Photo: orthodoxtimes.com

The Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated that with his decision to change the status of Hagia Sophia from a museum to a mosque, Erdogan "isolates Turkey culturally", reports "Orthodox Times”.

The decision of the Turkish Council of State to change the status of Hagia Sophia is “the result of the political will of Turkish President Erdogan” and also “is a blatant provocation against the whole civilised world that recognises the unique value and the universality of the monument,” the Greek Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, said in a statement.

She added, “The nationalism shown by President Erdogan is not appropriate for the situation and, therefore, he leads his country six centuries back.” She also stressed, “Hagia Sophia does not lose its glamour and its universal nature, only because the Turkish Council of State gave in, President Erdogan has decided to isolate Turkey culturally.”

The Greek official also stressed that in her opinion, the decision of the Turkish Council of State fully confirmed that there was “no judicial independence in Turkey”.

As reported earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signed a decree changing the status of Hagia Sophia from a museum to a mosque.

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