It was added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites in 1985 but following Friday's decision, it reverts from being a museum to being a mosque. Reuters
Until now it has been the principal tourist attraction in Turkey, hosting millions of tourists every year -- 3.8 million visitors in 2019. AFP
There has been more religious activity inside the museum in recent years -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recited the first verse of the Koran in 2018. Reuters
As early as 1994 when he was running for mayor of Istanbul, Erdogan promised to open the building to Muslim worshippers. AFP
The edifice was first built as an Orthodox Christian church between 532 and 537 AD under emperor Justinian I and is considered the most important Byzantine structure. AFP
The UN's cultural agency UNESCO earlier warned Turkey against converting Hagia Sophia into a mosque, urging dialogue before any decision was taken. AFP
(Published 12 July 2020, 10:42 IST)