Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s response to statements from Turkish officials regarding the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Konstantinos Koutras stated the following in response to a question on statements from Turkish officials regarding the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque:

“The repeated statements from Turkish officials regarding the conversion of Byzantine Christian churches into mosques are an insult to the religious sensibilities of millions of Christians and are actions that are anachronistic and incomprehensible from a state that declares it wants to participate as a full member in the European Union, a fundamental principle of which is respect for religious freedom. Byzantine Christian churches are an intrinsic element of world cultural and religious heritage, and they should receive the necessary respect and protection.”

November 18, 2013

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