State Department urges Turkey to respect Hagia Sophia’s tradition, complex history

The US State Department has indicated its disapproval with Turkey’s decision to allow readings from the Quran to be broadcast from Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

“We recognise Hagia Sophia as a site of extraordinary significance and we would encourage Turkey to preserve Hagia Sophia in a way that respects its tradition and also its complex history,” US State Department deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said on Thursday.