Erdogan signs decree turning Hagia Sophia into a mosque
Russia and Greece, as well as the US, France, and others, have stated their opposition to Hagia Sophia becoming a mosque. That Erdogan would move ahead with this anyway shows that he is not worried about antagonizing either friend (Russia and ostensibly the US) or foe (Greece).
He appears to be much more concerned to position himself as the defender and protector of Islam, which is in line with his frequently-noted aspiration to restore the Ottoman caliphate. Hagia Sophia as a mosque was a key symbol of the triumph and supremacy of the caliphate. Erdogan clearly wants it to be again.
Many years ago, when I first began sounding the alarm about Islamic jihad, many analysts at all points on the political spectrum waved me away by pointing to secular Turkey as the future of the Islamic world. No one does that anymore.
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