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.
The attack took place at KSRTC bus stand in Madikeri on Monday night. The next day a case was registered at the police station in Sullia from where Mohammed Anees and the Hindu girl had boarded the bus.
Comments
Vinasha kaale vipareeta buddi......
These uncultured porkis make their earnings through wrong doings for petty cash and liquor thrown by people from kalladka and pumpwell
These porkis are not doing in love with their community or to protect hindu sisters, when so many of them are being exploited sexually daily by their own brothers.
They have only hatred towards Muslims Christians and Dalits. Bcos they envy empowerment of minorites and backward class
What about their girls sharing their rooms in gulf country.
Ref: Viren......we have KFD Bros...still you taste of KFD
He has to convert her first and only then he can marry her....
Bus conductor and Madikeri depot personnel didn't act as per law. Under such circumstances, bus is required to be diverted to nearby police station in the interest of bus and safety of passengers. Conductor didn't consider safety of passengers and property over reaching destination.
Wondering what kind of training the KSRTC management gives to conductors and drivers. Government and KSRTC should think of it.
send them to LOC
Book these anti social and anti national terrorists under goonda act and put them behind bars for not less than 10 years. This is due to the hate speech by hate nmonger Kalla bhatta. He should be arrested and banned from all activities. Let him be a dummy in his home. Dont let him participate in any activity.
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