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Articles on Hagia Sophia

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People pray inside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, with sail-like drapes covering mosaic figures of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. AP Photo/Yasin Akgul

Hagia Sophia has been converted back into a mosque, but the veiling of its figural icons is not a Muslim tradition

In reconverting Hagia Sophia to a mosque, Turkish officials have emphasized veiling of Christian icons to create a Muslim prayer space. Experts explain why the veiling is in fact a Byzantine practice.
Muslims offer their prayers during the Eid al-Adha prayer, backdropped by Hagia Sophia, July 31, 2020. Some believe the building stands on an ancient pagan site. (AP Photo/Yasin Akgul)

Hagia Sophia controversy goes beyond Muslim-Christian tensions to treatment of ‘paganism’

Beyond inter-religious dialogues, religions need to examine how their histories intersect with Indigenous People’s rights and spiritualities.

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