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Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia holds first Ramadan prayers in 88 years
Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia Mosque held its first Ramadan night prayers in 88 years on Friday, with the arrival of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Yeni Akit newspaper reported.
Ali Erbaş, the head of Turkey’s the Religious Affairs Directorate, led the prayers unique to the month of fasting attended by hundreds of people, it said, while thousands flocked to the mosque.
- Ahval
In 2020, Turkey converted the UNESCO-listed site which was initially an Orthodox Christian cathedral, into a mosque, in move that was met with international criticism.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the conversion of the structure, originally built as a…