Erdoğan abusing religion to achieve political goals

Sara Rashad

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan does not feel offended when accused of abusing religion to achieve his political goals.

He used religion during the presumed 2016 military coup against him. He used it several times before and after this as well.

Hagia Sophia debate

Erdoğan’s latest controversial remarks about turning the Hagia Sophia Museum into a mosque is a case in point.

These remarks have stirred up unending debates in the Turkish society and inside European circles. The name of the museum has been trending in Arabic and in English on Twitter.

The historical value of the museum is deep under these debates. It is a gigantic building overlooking the Bosporus. It was constructed in the 6th century. It had been used as a church since then.

Following the conquest of Constantinople, Mehmed II bought the church and turned it into a mosque. It then turned into a museum, especially after the rule of the Ottoman state came to an end, opening the door for the declaration of the Turkish republic.

Europeans view Hagia Sophia as a religious symbol they lost. It is in fact one of the oldest Byzantine relics.

Erdoğan knows the value of the same building to Muslims. It is a symbol of their historical victory. This was why he swore several times to turn the museum into a mosque yet again.

He did this during the latest presidential campaign. However, soon after his victory, Erdoğan backpedalled. He said dozens of mosques in Europe would be harmed if the museum was turned into a mosque.

Appealing to Muslims’ hearts

Strangely enough, Erdoğan’s party, which possesses majority in the Turkish parliament, voted against turning the museum into a mosque.

This was why former prime minister Ahmet Davutoğlu Erdoğan criticized Erdoğan. He expressed skepticism over the Turkish president’s intentions to turn the museum into a mosque.

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