The Medal of Conquest, the Heart of Civilization: Hagia Sophia, the Temple That Transcends the Ages panel was held

The Directorate of Communications organized a panel titled "The Mark of Conquest, the Heart of Civilization: Hagia Sophia, the Temple that Transcends the Ages", on the occasion of the 6th anniversary of the re-opening of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque for worship. It was held at Türkiye International Islamic, Science and Technology University and was attended by Director of Communications, Head of Press and Publication Department, Dr. In the panel titled "Tombstone of Conquest, Heart of Civilization: Hagia Sophia, the Temple That Transcends Ages" moderated by Zeynep Zelan, 64th Government Minister of Culture and Tourism Mahir Ünal, Rector of Turkey International Islamic, Science and Technology University Prof. Dr. Mehmet Görmez and researcher writer Tufan Gündüz took part as speakers. Mahir Ünal, one of the panelists, emphasized that reopening Hagia Sophia for worship was a very big event and touched upon the differences between conquest and occupation.

Stating that the Ottoman Empire was never colonialist and did not occupy Istanbul, but took it into the department of justice, Ünal said, "As a sign of taking it into the department of justice, Hagia Sophia became our symbol, our Red Apple. he said. The book "Magnificent Temple Hagia Sophia Mosque" by the Directorate of Communications has been published.

Ünal said, "In our culture and belief, there is the awareness of tawhid, balance and trust. The earth is a trust, man is a limited and measured being, all beings were created from a common divine source.

When we look at it from this perspective, we need to see the Seljuks, the Ottomans, the Islamic civilization and our basic vision within this framework. "Hagia Sophia should also be seen as the badge of the department of justice, he said. Noting that they remembered the longing felt for Hagia Sophia to be opened for worship, the demonstrations held in Sultanahmet Square, and the takbirs and shouts of Muslims, Ünal said: "When politics and politicians entrust the will of the nation, they must have the courage to turn that will into a decision.

Our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has shown the courage to turn the will entrusted to him by the nation into a decision and take the risk. The reopening of Hagia Sophia for worship is about the transformation of the will of the nation into a political decision and the courage to take the risks that this decision requires. Therefore, I hereby congratulate our esteemed President and his companions for realizing the nation's demand, longing and desire in a determined manner. Mehmet Görmez, one of the panelists, said in his speech, "I would like to thank our esteemed President and everyone who contributed to the transformation of this great temple of monotheism in the history of humanity, this token of conquest, from being a tourism object trodden on for 86 years, to the believers prostrating their foreheads on its ground, and to the altar of Hagia Sophia and "I would like to express that I see it as a duty of loyalty that the pulpit teaches us, he said.

Underlining that Mehmet the Conqueror saw Hagia Sophia not as a plunder but as a great trust, Görmez said, "Our nation took it as a great trust and developed it. As a nation, history and civilization, we did not only use this trust, we talked with this trust. From our conversation with this trust, Süleymaniye, Selimiye, Sultanahmet Complex was born.

It is our duty to carry this trust to the future and to continue talking with this trust. Görmez said. Görmez stated that when he took office as the Presidency of Religious Affairs in 2010, his first conversations with President Erdoğan were about Hagia Sophia, and that the preparations for the opening of Hagia Sophia lasted 10 years in their minds. Görmez emphasized that Hagia Sophia is not just a temple and said, "We would be doing an injustice to Hagia Sophia if it remained only a mosque where prayers were performed.

For God's sake, take a look around these areas when you visit Sultanahmet and Hagia Sophia. "How many madrasas, how many foundation works, almshouses, healing houses, orphanages and dormitories were there? he said. Görmez said, "I cannot and do not accept the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a museum as a conscious behavior of any mind in these lands.

But I think there may be a point where the difficult conditions bring people. Otherwise, I cannot think that a will that rejects this memory will belong to these lands. "Those difficulties may have forced people to do this, he said.

Noting that the reopening of Hagia Sophia for worship was an opportunity, Görmez said, "It is important to revive the spirit of Hagia Sophia. If we revive not only the spirit of worship of Hagia Sophia, but also the spirit of knowledge, wisdom, knowledge and the dimensions that give life to the city, we will do justice to this trust.