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
This passage has always been quoted out of context and never post other verses 9:1-14, If they did, people would find out that it says the opposite of what they claim. Read from 9:1 – 9:14,
Islam never says to kill non-believers and this wording is related to pagans at the time of renovation. Quran is not an ordinary book. To understand the quran better you need to study Hadith and history. Dear brother Rudra I really appreciate your quote and I advise you to study more and more about islam to find truth. May Almighty Allah Guide you and your family in a right way. May Allah bless you if he wishes. Insha halla
Dear Asokan, dont trust on sanghis who are trying to brain wash you. Whatever you have stated is wrong. Your daughter has no passport to go out of india. Secondly your son-in-law is not a terrorist but those sanghis who are brain washing are the real terrorists who killed Bapuji.
All claims, no proof.
Kill unbelievers where you find them. koran 9:5
Do you dare to deny it? Do you follow it ? pseudo muslim.
As per Quran, All muslims are not terrorists, there is no doubt in it.
I agree with you whatever legal points of view expressed. Hadiya is matured, educated lady and free to convert, believe and marry the boy of her choice.
There is another face to this, which also to be a face of parents! irrespective of Ashokan's Sangh parivar leanings, keep in mind that he is father of Hadiya.They born & bought up her for 24 years and all of sudden they lost her! How their agony, misery and sufferings will be? Just keep us in his place and think, don’t we require little introspection?
Mr.Ashokan Miscerabley failed to prove his claim as said! now even the supereme court allowed Hadiya to meet Mr.Shafin Jahan! the above statement is out of his frustration he maight have said. Now a days it is very easy to paint some one as terrorist , and some as nationalist! media and some Govt. agency under RSS control anything may happen in future as they decide who is nationalist and who is anti national!
Pray for Mr.Ashokan, Please read Islamic history before you comment.
Every one misunderstood that accepting islam is just taking membership. Islam is way of Life proved scientifically and logically. It is just way of Life. any one can learn Islam and practise it. It is open and no body will force to accept islam. It is choice to practise Law defined by Our creator. No body wil be a True Muslim unless he practice the way of life defined by creator. increasing membership in islam no use. Every one should understand their creator and obey him. It is very simple and beautiful. If any one understand the principles of Islam. automatically he will attract. and identify his creator. Only our creator can read our mind and understand true believer. by name we cannot say he is true beleiver.
"If thousands of crminals escape also no innocent should be punished"
"one should not eat full if neighbour is starving"
what a beautiful teaching. We pray Al mighty Allah shows right path for all human being.
Now he need Treatment from Mental Hospital.
How dare Asokan to call a man terrorist without a proof ?
He has the rights to object to the marriage but, can't call a man terrorist.
Drag him to court of law for defamation.
LOL
mr. jahan, file defamation case against this ignorant human...
In sha allah on judgment day hadiya's father will realize that her daughter had made a right decission by entering to the fold of islam and saved her life from hell fire. But sad part is her father is not realizing this now. I pray with almighty that to give hidayah to hadiya's father.
If ALLAH wills, one day you will come to realise that my daughter hadiya has taken a good descision, from dark to light. and i hope that hadiyas entire family will be enter to islam. May ALLAH guide you to understand islam. Aameen.
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