ISTANBUL: Over 1.5 million people have so far visited the Turkey’s historic Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque since its reopening in July this year for prayers.
Earlier, the premises of the Hagia Sophia had served as a museum for 86 years.
About 15,000 people visit the mosque on weekdays and between 25,000 and 30,000 on weekends, Istanbul Mufti Mehmet Emin Masali said.
Earlier in July, Turkish President Erdogan had signed the presidential order to convert the historic Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque.
Erdogan had signed the presidential order soon after the Turkey’s Council of State gave decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
In its verdict, the Turkey’s highest court said that on November 24, 1934, the decision of the then government to convert the Hagia Sophia building from a mosque into a museum does not conform to the law.
