Erdogan says decision to change the status of Hagia Sophia from a museum to a mosque represents his country's will to use its 'sovereign rights' [Turkish presidency/AFP]
Al Jazeera: Turkey's Erdogan visits Hagia Sophia after reconversion to mosque
Some 500 worshippers are set to attend Muslim prayers at UNESCO World Heritage site on Friday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a surprise visit to Hagia Sophia just days before the first Muslim prayers will be held at the Istanbul landmark since it was reconverted to a mosque last week.
In a quick visit billed as an inspection, Erdogan took stock of the conversion work, the president's office said on Sunday, providing images showing scaffolding inside the building.
The Diyanet, the country's religious authority, said Christian icons would be curtained off and unlit "through appropriate means during prayer times".
Authorities said last week the mosaics would be concealed with either curtains or lasers when the first prayers are held.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: At least they are not removing the Christian Mosaics (for now) .... Hagia Sophia mosaics will be covered with curtains during prayers: Turkish presidential spokesman (Reuters).
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