and 'Chains broken, Hagia Sophia reopened!' Tourists could still visit the Hagia Sophia, just as they are able to see the Blue Mosque nearby. The UN's cultural agency UNESCO earlier Friday warned Turkey against converting Hagia Sophia into a mosque, urging dialogue before any decision was taken. The court ruled that Hagia Sophia was the property of a foundation managing the Sultan's assets and was opened up to the public as a mosque. Hagia Sophia was the most popular museum in Turkey last year, drawing more than 3.7 million visitors.

Source: Daily Mail July 10, 2020 14:42 UTC