Citizens who want to perform Friday prayers in Hagia Sophia-i Kebir Mosque after 86 years started to arrive at security points.
Citizens who want to perform the first prayer at the Hagia Sophia-i Kebir Mosque, which will be opened for worship after 86 years with Friday prayer, flocked to the region with the morning adhan.
Citizens, who constitute a density at the security points established at 11 points leading to the mosque, are waiting to be admitted to the area.
Citizens coming from Çatladıkapı entrance are welcomed by the officials in the tent set up here. After spraying disinfectant on their hands, the officials give masks and disposable prayer rugs to the citizens. Citizens are also offered tea and bagels from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s mobile kiosk.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli are expected to attend the inauguration ceremony, which is also expected to be attended by many local and foreign tourists.
A large number of police teams have been deployed in the area, where extensive security measures have been taken.
Participants will be taken to the area through security points starting at 10:00 am.
Preparations are complete
After the 10th Chamber of the Council of State annulled the decision of the Council of Ministers dated November 24, 1934 on the conversion of Hagia Sophia from a mosque to a museum, the Presidential Decree on the transfer of Hagia Sophia to the Presidency of Religious Affairs and opening it for worship was published in the repeated issue of the Official Gazette on July 10.
The Hagia Sophia-i Kebir Mosque, which was closed to visitors for a short period of time after it was decided to be reopened for worship, has completed the final preparations for the ceremony to be held for its reopening.
Due to the pandemic, 5 different open areas, 2 for women and 3 for men, have been designated as prayer areas in and around the mosque. Hagia Sophia Square, Sultanahmet Square and Yerebatan Street were allocated for men, while the area next to the Sultanahmet Tomb and Mehmet Akif Park were allocated for women.
The prayer areas will be accessed from 3 main directions from Beyazıt Square, Sirkeci and Çatladıkapı. Entrances to the prayer areas will be provided after being searched by the police at 11 separate checkpoints.
Fever measurements and mask checks will be carried out at the entry points. In this context, 736 health personnel and 101 ambulances, including 1 helicopter ambulance, will be on duty at 17 health points to be established in the area.
Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ayasofya-camii/ayasofya-i-kebir-cami-i-serifi-ibadete-aciliyor/1920655
