Merkel angered over plan to turn Hagia Sophia into mosque

Reporting on the visit by Ecumenical Patriarch to Germany and his meetings there, Deutsche Welle mentions that the issue of Hagia Sophia being turned into a Mosque outraged the German chancellor.

The German news agency and the German Catholic news agency contend, citing persons present at the meeting between Patriarch Vartholomaios and Chancellor Merkel note that the chancellor was outraged by public statements made by Turkish PM Recep Tayip Erdogan to turn the emblematic monument of Christianity into a mosque, once again.

Ms Merkel, according to the reports, called this intention as unacceptable, in a stance that was far more categorical than the statement by the German foreign ministry. At a press briefing taking place at the same time as the meeting between the Patriarch and the Chancellor, spokesperson Sawsan Chebli, of Palestinian descent and a Muslim, said that “all were pleased by the present regime of the monument as a museum,” but at the same time she reassured that “the final decision belongs to Turkey.”

Opposition to the Turkish PM's intentions was also voiced by the patriarch's next interlocutor, co-chairman of the Green party, Cem Özdemir, who is of Turkish origin, categorically stated to Deutsche Welle: “I can not comprehend the meaning of such an intent. Turkey is not lacking in mosques, to the contrary. It's probably a gesture to demean Christians, and all Turkish minorities. Turning Hagia Sophia into a museum by Kemal [Ataturk] was, in my opinion, a smart and correct measure that should remain in effect. If it is to be opened to religious practice, then it should not just be for Muslims, but the Patriarch shouls also have the ability to conduct services there.”