The Association of Greek Archaeologists (SEA) published an open letter calling on UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay to "intervene forcefully" to protect the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
One of the most important religious and cultural sites in the world, Hagia Sophia became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Originally built as a church, the Turkish government converted the structure into a mosque in 2020 with a very controversial decision. In the years since, the Byzantine-era cathedral has seen increasing damage and vandalism, according to the SEA.
In the letter, the SEA asked UNESCO, under whose protection the monument is located, to "intervene forcefully to change the current situation, which only poses risks for the Hagia Sophia". The SEA described the current management of the site as "devastating ".
Built by the Roman Emperor Justinian between 532 and 537, Hagia Sophia served as the largest Christian cathedral in the world until 1453. At that time, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Empire and Hagia Sophia was turned into glass. It was then converted into a museum by the Turkish leader, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, in 1935.
The open letter follows recent damage to Hagia Sophia's marble floors caused during a cleaning mishap, along with vandalism over the past two years to well-known art and architecture inside the building such as the Imperial Gate and the Theotokos mosaic.
In the letter, SEA writes: "The lack of control of visitors and the lack of security personnel testify to the indifference to the protection of the monument and leave the protection of the unique monument to the will of each visitor or pilgrim."
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Hagia Sophia Mosque under complete restoration
Since the resumption of regular liturgical services, the integrity and preservation of the site has been in question, according to the SEA. The organization plans to reach out to the international scientific community, seeking both resolutions and signed petitions to preserve the structure.
"Rightfully so, there has been concern within Turkey and globally about the future of the unique Hagia Sophia," the letter reads. Furthermore, the letter raised concerns about the conversion of the "Chora" monastery in Istanbul into a mosque.
(Taken from Art News)
