Turkey – First Ramadan prayers at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in 88 years.

Location: Istanbul – Turkey

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:03:07

Restrictions: A24 subscribers

Source: A24 clients

Dateline: 01/04/2022

Storyline

The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey held its first Taraweeh prayers (Ramadan evening prayers) on Friday after 88 years. Performing them got postponed because they were not permitted during the past 2 years as precautions against COVID-19. The mosque will host various events during the month of Ramadan including Quran recitation, prayers, chants, litanies and others. In 2020, The Turkish Council of State agreed to withdraw the 1934 decree of turning the Mosque into a museum. After the withdrawal, The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that the former Byzantine church will be open to Muslims on July 24^th 2020. The Hagia Sophia church was turned into a mosque after the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II seized Constantinople in 1453.

Shotllist

Soundbite (A male worshiper):

“I came from Gebze in Kocaeli Province to pray here at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque that is having the first Taraweeh prayers (Ramadan evening prayers) in 88 years. God bless all those who assisted in opening the mosque.”

Soundbite (A male worshiper):

“We performed the Taraweeh prayers (Ramadan evening prayers). The mosque was full of people so I had to pray on the court outside. Hopefully tomorrow I will pray inside the mosque.”

Soundbite (A female worshiper):

“The atmosphere was very nice. We were not able to go inside so we prayed on the court outside. This is a special day because we get to perform the Taraweeh prayers (Ramadan evening prayers) after 88 years at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque.”

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