Cyprus-Forum.com

[Maximus]

No thread started on this topic but I am sure many of you have been following recent events,

The AKP controlled judiciary has overturned a nearly centuries old court ruling to convert the iconic Christian Cathedral in to a mosque.

There was widespread international criticism.

Hagia Sophia is a UNESCO world heritage site that was a originally a church, then converted in to a mosque by the Ottomans that stole it. Then to a museum and now back to a mosque by the Turks.

UNESCO are going to review its status.

Erdogan signed a decree handing it over to the religious body in Turkey after the court ruling, that also wants to install a madrasa in it.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/turkey-ha ... -1.5644742

A "mosque" with the Christian name of Saint Sophia!

And the Turks will argue it was never Greek.

[repulsewarrior]

In the next three years, Erdogan said, Turkey will be an unstoppable power in the region.

Read more: https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/origin ... z6RvRrJ1VP

Erdogan will open the Hagia Sophia to worship on July 24, the anniversary of the 1923 treaty that established Turkey’s current borders. That settlement was long considered a victory by Turks, but lately Erdogan has criticized it for ceding territory and robbing Turkey of its rightful status as a great power.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... gia-sophia

...indeed, he has not swayed from his dream, when he was first elected President so many years ago; a Caliphate, of which he is the "Protector", in Istanbul.

...i imagine that what is left of this city, not "Turkish", will entirely whither away; to be Turkish will not be enough to live in it.

[repulsewarrior]

...from India's perspective.

...speaking of Turkey's policy, in the wider region; tells it like it is, covering a lot of ground.

[MR-from-NG]

No thread started on this topic but I am sure many of you have been following recent events,

The AKP controlled judiciary has overturned a nearly centuries old court ruling to convert the iconic Christian Cathedral in to a mosque.

There was widespread international criticism.

Hagia Sophia is a UNESCO world heritage site that was a originally a church, then converted in to a mosque by the Ottomans that stole it. Then to a museum and now back to a mosque by the Turks.

UNESCO are going to review its status.

Erdogan signed a decree handing it over to the religious body in Turkey after the court ruling, that also wants to install a madrasa in it.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/turkey-ha ... -1.5644742

A "mosque" with the Christian name of Saint Sophia!

And the Turks will argue it was never Greek.

Greek, Turk. Christian, Muslim. Church Mosque. His country his decision. He could've turned the place into public toilets for all I care.

[repulsewarrior]

...you "Turkish"?

..."his" country you say; you know the "others", the People, those Turkish but not "Turks" represent about half the population of Turkey? (and about half of the Turkish speaking population of Cyprus)


...who are you voting for? Who do you betray, to put it another way, come this October; will you vote for "Turkishness"?

[Maximus]

What? a toilet that would cost Turkey $72 million a year.

A year ago, Erdoğan said transforming this world Heritage site into a mosque would come at “a heavy price’’ for Turkey.

He said those demanding the transformation in to a mosque of having “no understanding of the world.’’

So what kind of understanding of the world do you have Mr-NG? Could it be a shit one? (Pun intended).

Or could it simply be as RW put it.........you "Turkish".

He also said; "as a political leader I have not lost my way so much that I would fall for this trick".

So it seems, he has lost his way, has no understanding of the world and managed to trick himself in to paying a heavy price.

This is a Christian Church, not a mosque.

…truth stands out clear from error. (Quran 2:256)

[Kikapu]

If the Christian and non Christian world is offended by the opening of Hagia Sophia, then they should boycott Turkey by not visiting it. Hurt Turkey where it hurts, in their pocket book. Turks only understand money.

I refuse to visit Turkey any longer since the last 7 years.

[Tim Drayton]

No chance I suppose that anyone will laud Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's bold decision, highly controversial at the time, to convert Hagia Sophia from a mosque into a museum in a gesture of good will indicative of the philosophy of the new secular republic he wished to forge and its desire for good relations with its neighbours.

[Paphitis]

No chance I suppose that anyone will laud Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's bold decision, highly controversial at the time, to convert Hagia Sophia from a mosque into a museum in a gesture of good will indicative of the philosophy of the new secular republic he wished to forge and its desire for good relations with its neighbours.

No, credit must be paid where credit is due.

Mustafa had a dream of a secular Turkey.. He and his contemporary supporters had another vision.

the West fought wars along the same trenches as Mustafa in Galipoli. He was a very respectful Officer of the Military, a genius in his own right and a political visionary for his country.

I have no doubt that if he were alive, he would be cursing Erdogan and the direction towards Islamification that Turkey seems to be taking. I'm pretty sure he would oppose the turning of Hagia Sophia into a Mosque. Which in my view, whether he was an enemy or not, it speaks volumes about him.

Turkey is now on a different path, creating enemies all round, and headed towards potential war with its neighbors. It is a destabilizing force against peace and stability.

[Maximus]

Mustafa Kemal did make a good decision but he could have made a better one.

It should have remained as a Church,

Because that is what it is and that is the greatest demonstration of respect.

But that probably would have been a step too far for the average uncivilized radical Turk.

Nether the less, Mustafa Kemal's decision is worthy of respect.