The Kariye Mosque, where the Council of State decided that "The mosque cannot be used outside its primary function" and was transferred to the Diyanet by the Presidential Decree on August 21, 2020, was opened.
The mosque was restored again in 2020, hours before its opening, and its opening was postponed to the end of 2021.
Kariye Mosque, which Milli Gazete constantly kept on the agenda and tried to open for worship, was finally opened. The first adhan was recited at the Kariye Mosque, which was opened for worship with a large attendance yesterday.
Regarding the Kariye Mosque, where the call to prayer was silent from the conquest of Istanbul until 1945, in November 2019, the Council of State ruled that "The mosque cannot be used outside its primary function" and ruled that the decision dated 1945 was not in accordance with the law.
Following the decision of the Council of State, with the Presidential Decree dated 21 August 2020, it was decided that the Kariye Mosque would be transferred to the Presidency of Religious Affairs and opened for worship.
OPENING WAS POSTPONED WITH HOURS AGO
Following the decision of the Council of State that "The mosque cannot be used outside its primary function", with the Presidential Decree published in the Official Gazette dated 21 August 2020, it was decided that the Kariye Mosque would be transferred to the Presidency of Religious Affairs and opened for worship.
President of Religious Affairs Ali Erbaş, who visited the Kariye Mosque a few days after the Presidency's decision on the issue.
"With this decision, the process started. There are transactions to be made inside. After these procedures are completed, I hope it will be opened for worship as soon as possible. We will start with a Friday prayer," he said.
While the Kariye Mosque was expected to be opened for worship, a shocking statement was made by the Presidency of Religious Affairs.
"The opening of the Kariye Mosque, located in the Fatih district of Istanbul, for worship has been postponed to a later date due to the ongoing preparation process. It is announced to the public with respect," the statement said.
FINALLY OPENED FOR WORSHIP
Kariye Mosque, which was turned into a museum by the decision of the Council of Ministers dated 29.08.1945, was left longing for the community for 75 years.
With the decision of the Council of State, legal obstacles were removed, but despite the passage of 4 years, it was still not opened.
While we were waiting to meet the Kariye Mosque community, the good news finally came.
Kariye Mosque, which has longed for the call to prayer for years, was opened for worship yesterday.
A large crowd witnessed the opening of the Kariye Mosque, which has longed for the call to prayer for years.
SERENLI: “WE FOUGHT HARD”
Saadet Party General Administrative Board Member and Fatih District Chairman Muzaffer Serenli also attended the opening program of the Kariye Mosque, which was opened for worship after many years.
Speaking to Milli Gazete, Serenli said, "We fought hard to open the Kariye Mosque for worship. We made press statements. Thank God, today we are witnessing the opening of the Kariye Mosque. We are very happy."
MİLLİ GAZETE KEPT IT ON THE AGENDA WITH ITS HEADLINES
Milli Gazete, which has been following the issue since the first day of the opening of the Kariye Mosque, using: "The carpets have been removed, the pulpit has been dismantled!", "Is it going back to the beginning in the Kariye Mosque?", "It's the second Friday, there is no sound!", "In Kariye What's going on?" kept the issue on the agenda with headlines such as "What an endless restoration!", "End of year promise to Kariye Mosque", "Kariye Mosque is still sad".