Actually, my buddy Andrew Bostom zeroed in on Turkey’s re-Islamicization back in 2010. Thanks to his highly informational report, Bostom lets us know about an Israeli, Uriel Heyd, who observed over 40 some years ago, Turkish decline and Islamicization of itself soon after Kemal Ataturk’s death.
The Re-Islamicization of Turkey — Deja-Vu All Over Again
by Ralph Sidway, guest contributor
(This is an update to my posting here, and Raymond Ibrahim’s recent article.)
The re-Islamicization of Turkey continues grinding along, inexorably eclipsing the few remaining signs of Asia Minor’s two millennia of Christian history.
The relentless Muslim initiative, to roll back Turkey’s secular stance implemented by Kemal Ataturk nearly a century ago, is seen in efforts to turn former ancient Christian churches — converted to mosques during the Ottoman era, then converted into museums in the twentieth century — back into mosques.
Hagia Sophia Trebizond
The ancient, 13th century Church of Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) in Trebizond (Trabzon) is officially on its way to becoming a full-fledged mosque, as Muslims are now empowered to cover the Christian frescoes and hold prayers there. The official announcement was made back in early February, but it was only in late June that the first Muslim prayer service was held.
John Sanidopoulos reports at MYSTAGOGY blog:
Unfortunately, the Church of Hagia Sophia in Trebizond, which has been a museum for the past 52 years, now functions as a mosque.
It functioned as a mosque since the fall of Trebizond in the 15th century, and in 1961 it was converted into a museum. Recently Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew stated that it would be better for the church to remain a museum than to become a mosque once again.
On Friday 28 June 2013, 50 Muslims held their first prayers. The Director of the Directorate for Foundations of Trebizond, Mazchar Yildirim, said that “today launched the personal prayer of the faithful. Next week we will do a formal ceremony.” He said that besides the hours of prayer (Muslims pray five times a day) the specific location will continue to operate as a museum.
The iconography and mosaics of Hagia Sophia Museum were covered during the time of prayer with carpets and curtains, without the use of nails that would cause damage, Mazchar Yildirim assured, who is the protector of the museum.
