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Tayyip Erdogan joins thousands at Hagia Sophia for Friday prayer
While some worshippers slept after arriving overnight others ate on the grass, shaded by trees from the hot sun.
Some were seen holding Turkish and Ottoman flags.
- Sana Sikander
- The Siasat Daily
ISTANBUL – Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan joined thousands of worshippers at Hagia Sophia today.
The Friday prayer was held for first time after Erdogan declared the monument, revered by Christians and Muslims for almost 1,500 years, a mosque once again.
Crowds formed at checkpoints where massed police maintained security.
Once through the checks, worshippers sat apart on prayer mats outside the…