In a divided world, sacred spaces like Al Aqsa and Babri Masjid, which have raised nationalistic fervour, should have endured ...

Pope Francis on Sunday joined an international chorus of condemnation of Turkey's decision to convert Istanbul's iconic Hagia Sophia landmark back into a mosque. “I think of Hagia Sophia ...

In 2020, the building once again became a working mosque. Once the biggest cathedral in the world, the Hagia Sophia is considered the magnum opus of Byzantine architecture. Visitors say it is a ...

Hagia Sophia was a cathedral for nearly 1,000 years before being converted into a mosque in 1453 and a museum in 1935. Diyanet said in a statement on Tuesday that the Christian icons in Hagia ...

Al-Monitor is an award-winning media outlet covering the Middle East, valued for its independence, diversity and analysis. It is read widely by US, international and Middle East decision makers at the ...

In 1453, the Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque after Ottoman Turks conquered the city. Now a museum, it has survived earthquakes, sieges and the rise and fall of empires. Yet Hagia Sophia ...

Trump’s Sentence ‘Doesn’t Matter,’ but the Conviction Does Nothing in Trump’s Sentencing Matters The Anti-Iran Coalition Takes Shape I rubbed my eyes in disbelief seeing a wall plaque at ...

Using a new fee and rules for tourists, Turkey is trying to preserve and improve the experience of worshippers at Hagia Sophia. Tourists can’t visit Hagia Sophia for free anymore. Since Monday ...

Al-Monitor is an award-winning media outlet covering the Middle East, valued for its independence, diversity and analysis. It is read widely by US, international and Middle East decision makers at the ...

The Turkish Ministry of Culture is undertaking a cleaning program of the underground spaces of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, aiming to make them accessible to the public. The project includes the ...