“After the recent revelations about the collapse of fragments of the dome of Hagia Sophia, in Istanbul, the international community cannot remain indifferent. Toleration of the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, in the context of the instrumentalization of religion by the Turkish leadership, becomes complicity in the destruction of a unique 1,500-year-old cultural monument” emphasized the head of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy (DSO), MP Maximos Harakopoulos, on the occasion of video that saw the light of day, in which it appears that fragments are falling from the dome of the church of Hagia Sophia, in fact endangering the visitors who were at the scene at the time.

It is noted that the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Art History Association, Sherif Yasar, warned that “if the Hagia Sophia is not restored, it will collapse with the first earthquake and groups of more than 25 people should not be admitted to the temple”.

“It is the duty of all of us to join our voice with the cry of anguish of the most competent bodies in Turkey itself who warn of the collapse of Hagia Sophia, due to the negative conditions created by the large number of visitors, after the conversion of the temple into a Muslim mosque . The lack of reaction of international organizations and governments, due to indifference or petty political expediencies, can be fatal for this architectural miracle of Byzantium” continues the deputy.

At the same time, Mr. Harakopoulos underlined that “these sad developments regarding Hagia Sophia confirm, unfortunately, the correctness of our decision to organize the campaign to awaken international public opinion, for the need to cancel Turkey’s decision to convert the temple – symbol of Ecumenical Orthodoxy in a mosque. In the context of this initiative we informed international organizations, governments, Parliaments, political and ecclesiastical actors, members of the academic community and Civil Society in Europe and the USA. We will continue to serve this goal, hoping that the concerted pressure will have a successful outcome and the Turkish leadership will reconsider its disastrous decision.”