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
one of the chut#yst man i ever seen in this news portal..do you think modi is internet email so all the people with him...first change your cow dunge to human brain and come to mangalore for treatment...
Doctor name Dr Kamath surgen 9967453786...
is it ok for you to replace with bakra brain...then dont blame muslim for that..reason we have sortage of human brain due to election
Ananth Kumar, what have you done for the people other then living the life style of the rich and famous with the poor tax payers money and warming up your seat. Nobody can match Siddaramiah he has done 100 foldes of you guys had done.. BJP leaders have nothing tangable to show that's why you guys keep bring up the watch issue. Please vote for Congress! so Siddaramiah can be our CM for a better future for the people of Karnataka.
Moustache still black by the grace of Kolesston colour but Laak chupawo Chupna sakegha Jhoota bjp walon ka jhoot ka chehra. Shakuni mamoo next mp election u will not be anywhere in Karnataka Map.
Wait and watch. first leg will be within a week and the final leg 2019 supda saap no adress of bjp or rss or u.
Anant, thu kasan sangtha maraya, lutha bais. 15 May pale Kazan zatha mum. Yeddi che chaddi votha.
Dear Ananthkumar, you are able and fit leader to be next CM of karnataka. You are always tellig the truth and open to all. We, the people of your constituency fully support you as our care taker and helping us. You are like our God Father.
Anant Kumar is 100 percent correct. Cogress will not get a single seat against the wave's of MODI and YOGI. Our great national hero leader PM Modi has already told that people of Karnataka have made their mind to kick out Congress and select only BJP in karnataka and to be followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra. I think Electon Commission should stop voting in Karnataka to save billions of Rupees as people have already informed our Leader great Modi that they will vote for BJP only. It will be a waste of money for Congress and other parties also as BJP is going to sweep almost all the seats. Our PM is a great astrologer and has dreamt about the win in Karnataka and whatever he dreams it comes true. He had dream of becomingPM of india and it became true. He also dreamed that he will visit also all the countries in the world and its nearly completing as he has left only few countries to visit. Jai Modi ji . Jai Hind.
All Bjp leadrs are day dreaming for power in karnataka which will end on 15th may 2018.Let them happy upto that day. JAI KARNATAKA JAI INDIA.NO FEAR INDIA IS OUR SLOGAN.
Ananth Kumar and Anant Kumar Hegde, both are same in mindset. always spits nonsenses
A study shows BJP is 'richest' political party and the money not in the name of party it's owned by BJP leaders individually. They are not showing it while filing nomination and they are not paying income tax also
The irony is, cow dung fools are criticising normal people
Soon BJP will be eradicated from India due to Computer baba, rapist BJP MLAs, Yogi and Feku etc
In other countries, ministers and elected persons will be highly qualified specific area focused people. Here in India, all BJP MLAs and ministers are some cow dungs
India will be free of BJP due to Modi and his MLA fools
I am not a supporter of any political leader or party. But yeah i'll definitely choose a candidate wisely while voting irrespect of his caste or party.
Mr. Ananth kumar what you know about the facilities the present govt has provided for the farmers by sitiing in Delhi?
Mr. Siddu ( I am not a suppoter of him anyway) has done Something for the farmers of his state. Dont blindnly fool the people of karnataka.
Its sad that farmers are ending their lives all over India..
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