Statement by Mike Tannousis, Former Prosecutor & Candidate New York State Assembly
Over the weekend, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis and I came out against Turkey’s decision to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
Over 80 years ago, Turkey’s government made the decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a museum that people of all faiths and backgrounds could visit to understand the site’s rich history. It had previously stood for centuries as an Orthodox Christian cathedral before being turned into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1453. Making it a museum had made it neutral ground that was accessible to Christians and Muslims alike.
The recent decision by Turkish President Erdogan and his government turns its back on a historic settlement and divides communities at a time when people of different nations and faiths should be united in the face of unprecedented public health challenges.
I urge the Turkish government to rethink this change and keep Hagia Sophia as a museum.
Your neighbor,
64th District
