Is new imam answered prayer or impending doom for Hagia Sophia?
While many Turks applaud the appointment of an imam inside the Hagia Sophia, others worry President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is claiming the national and historical treasure to build his case for an imperial presidency.
Onder Soy, the new imam of the Hunkar Kasri, part of the Hagia Sophia complex, recently led the first Friday prayers there in 80 years, sparking enormous joy and excitement among many Muslims. It also spawned concern among people who worry about potential loss of tourism revenue and frustration among those who fear this could be the first step toward completely converting the site into a mosque.
The situation is complicated.
First, the Hagia Sophia Museum — which encompasses the former Byzantine and Ottoman house of worship — has not become a functioning mosque. The imam, appointed Oct. 20 by the Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate, will oversee only the Hunkar Kasri, itself a tourist attraction with its impressive Iznik tiles. The Hunkar Kasri, which means "mini palace for the sultans," was a place for the Ottoman sultans to rest before and after they attended prayers at the Hagia Sophia.
Since 1991, the Hunkar Kasri has been open to prayer but had no official imam. It is a small area where observant Muslims can perform their midday and afternoon prayers. Now, with its own permanent imam, it is able to serve the public full time. Hence, believers can attend prayers five times a day, and also the special Friday prayers.
