Aija Sofia again glass, Erdogan's trick to retain power

My parents, who were both pilgrims in Mecca, educated me according to Islamic values. Yes, I am a Muslim believer, Elhamdüllah! Thank God. ) At the same time, the values of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk have played an important role in my education. For my family and me, secularism, the separation of state and religion Ataturk brought to Turkey is an excellent achievement and a great fortune.

As devout Muslim, I can in no way understand the decision of Turkey's Supreme Administrative Court. I wonder what law the lawyers made them allow Sofia to turn into a mosque. Aya Sophia is an architectural masterpiece that unites cultures and religion in the world. Now this is over. This has nothing to do with the rule of law.

The answer to why high administrative judges judged (or should be judged) is political again. The economy in Turkey not only suffers, it has fallen almost to the ground. Almost every sector in the country is affected by the coronary pandemic. Unemployment increases rapidly. Pressure on Erdogan increases steadily. What can an Islamist-conservative president do in order to bring back supporters who are running away? How can he mobilize voters again?

A new military offensive to appeal to national awareness? It's not possible, it costs too much! And above all, the question is: Against whom should the army act? Early elections? Very dangerous because demoscopes currently do not predict success for Erdogan.

What if we simply undo Ataturk's achievements? That's the choice! Touching devout Muslims right there where they respond with the greatest sensitivity: Appell religious conscience! Because, for this population group, Ayja Sophia has been a mosque since Constantinople's conquest. When Ataturk in 1935 converted Aya Sophia, who for nearly 400 years had served as a Muslim cult building, a message conveyed: Modern Turkey is a secular country! But for Erdogan, that doesn't matter. He only cares about power. Whatever it takes.

Ever since Friday afternoon's prayer, when Aja Sophia's mine was heard by Muezini and then crowds of people in front of the building burst into tears, honoring Erdogan and thanking him for the decision, I miss, to be honest, words. All of this is more than a provocation. Although the mosque's obedient supporters celebrate the judges' decision in the streets, there are many people in Istanbul, asking: Why do you need more glass? That question is fully justified because in Istanbul, a city of over 15 million people, in which every religion is represented, there are already 3,200 mosques. And frankly, not every one of these 15 million people pray five times a day at a mosque. And how many churches are still in secular Turkey? Much less!

For a long time I have hoped that Erdogan would someday bring the population together again in Turkey. That he will become a head of state with the values he represented at the beginning of his national political career as prime minister. But this hope will unfortunately continue to live only in my heart. Because reality seems different. Wherever he can, this president divides. The gap gets deeper and deeper.

Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, head of all Orthodox churches, had expressed his firm stand against the conversion of Aja Sophia to the mosque. It is one of the most important monuments of civilization and does not belong only to direct owners, but to all humanity”, the patriarch had said. Erdogan, however, ignores such words and thoughts. One thing is worth it - power and power. I can only hope, that the award for the return of Ajja Sophia to the Islamic centre of worship will not be forced to pay Muslim minorities outside Turkey. / DW/