Hagia Sophia restoration sparks discussion in Turkey

The decision to restore the damage sustained over the years by the dome of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul has garnered significant attention from various media outlets in Turkey. For instance, the newspaper Sozcu and the news site T24 reported on it with headlines suggesting that the dome of the former Orthodox Christian cathedral, which is now a mosque, is set to be "dismantled."

Kathimerini was attending a conference with architects and civil engineers when the news broke. Speaking to the Greek newspaper, participants expressed surprise and questioned how such an intervention would be carried out. "We assume all the necessary studies have been completed," they said. They emphasized that any intervention must be conducted with great care and under the supervision of various authorities, as Hagia Sophia is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

'Our architects and art...