Istanbul: Mosques in Turkey reopened on Friday for mass prayers after more than two months as the government further eased strict restrictions to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.
Turkey has been shifting since May to a "new normal" by easing lockdown measures and opening shopping malls, barbershops and hair salons.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said many other sites -- restaurants and cafes as well as libraries, parks and beaches -- will reopen from Monday.
Hundreds of worshippers wearing protective masks performed mass prayers outside Istanbul's historic Blue Mosque for the first time since mosques were shut down in March.
In the Ottoman-era Fatih mosque, worshippers prayed both inside and outside, with the municipality handing out disinfectants and disposable carpets.
"I have waited a lot for this, I have prayed a lot. I can say it's like a new birth, thanks to God, he has brought us back here," he said.
Another worshipper, Asum Tekif, 50, said: "It has a been a long time... we missed the mosques."
Turkey, a country of 83 million, has so far recorded 4,489 coronavirus-related deaths and 162,120 confirmed cases.
Prayers in Hagia Sophia
Muslim clerics on Friday recited prayers in the Hagia Sophia, the world famous Istanbul landmark which is now a museum after serving as a church and a mosque.
The prayers were held to celebrate the anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople, today's Istanbul, by the Ottomans in 1453.
"It is very important to commemorate the 567th anniversary of the conquest ... through prayers in the Hagia Sophia," said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who attended the ceremony via videoconference.
The stunning edifice was first built as a church in the sixth century under the Byzantine Empire as the centrepiece of its capital Constantinople.
After the Ottoman conquest, it was converted into a mosque before being turned into a museum during the rule of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, in the 1930s.
But there have been hints about reconverting the Hagia Sophia into a mosque. Last year, Erdogan himself mooted the possibility of turning Hagia Sofia museum into a mosque.
Such calls have sparked anger among Christians and raised tensions with neighbouring Greece.
In 2015, a Muslim cleric recited the Koran in the Hagia Sophia for the first time in 85 years to mark the opening of an exhibition.
After Friday prayers at the Blue Mosque, a small group of Muslim worshippers shouted: "Let the chains break and let the Hagia Sophia open".
The group was later dispersed by the police who stopped them from protesting near Hagia Sophia that sits immediately opposite the Blue Mosque.
Comments
With all due respects, to all our brothern Hindus,
One thing sure, series of babas because who are not allowed to marry are indulged in rape, adultary cases.
Babas who called Godman became criminals.
Hindus should not be so stupid to allow these babas to commit more crime and spoil the name of Hinduism.
If you dont allow them, you are risking your daughters in a very dangererous state. May God really help.
why are the hording in hindi, do this people not respect kannada and kannadigas?
@Hari... In that matter, Kerala media did well. They didnt give much importance to Amit Shah's visit. Kerala media covered actor Dileep issue at that time. But cunning Shah brought national pro cheddi media there for his programmes
They are coming for spreading hatred and communal thinking.. should avoid them and should not attend thier programmes. Even media should not cover thier arrival with much importance
LOL... Yogi and Shah from the state, which has no sufficient toilets for people and they are talking about development... Greeeeaaaaat
Communal Yogi and shahspoiled Mangaluru' sacredness
I heard speech of Yogi, while he visited Kerala. Fool Yogi told Kerala govt to learn hospital treatments and life care from UP hospitals... See the irony - Yogi, who is the reason for death of 61 children ask to learn from hospital things to Kerala govt, where health care sector having no. 1 position among Indian states
Mangaluru was sacred place just before your arrival. You spoiled that with blood stains of 61 children and many raped women
See the face of swamis, really public are idiots
Sacred land with feku babas... Yogi better concentrate on your UP land. First try to develop your UP then give advice to others. Our manglore is developing and we do not need your advise. Try to correct law and order in your state. I wonder why you became CM.. Instead of that you could have become a sadhu or pandith. This will be good and suitable for you. Also try to learn the meaning of DEVELOPMENT!!!!
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