Hamas backs Hagia Sophia mosque move

Spokesman calls it proud moment for all Muslims

Turkey's Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, accompanied by head of Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate Ali Erbas, visits the Hagia Sophia or Ayasofya-i Kebir Camii in Istanbul, Turkey,Show more

The Palestinian militant group Hamas has welcomed the move to reopen the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul as a mosque.

The move has been criticised by secular and Christian groups but backed by those connected to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated allies.

“Opening of the Hagia Sophia to prayer is a proud moment for all Muslims,” said Rafat Murra, the international spokesman for Hamas, told Turkey’s Anadolu news agency.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, on Sunday said he was “deeply pained” over the decision by Turkey to change the Hagia Sophia, which was originally built as a Christian cathedral, from a museum to a mosque.

The colossal Santa Sophia cathedral was turned into a mosque after the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453.

The Turkish secular government under Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1934 decided to make it a museum.

Mr Erdogan declared the monument open for Muslim worship after a high court annulled the 1934 decision.