Citizens have been demanding for the opening of the Kariye Mosque for worship for years and longing for the day when their wishes will come true.
It is of great importance that the Kariye Mosque, which started to be used as a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul and whose sounds of takbir echoed on its walls until 1945, was reopened for worship.
In November 2019, the Council of State made a satisfactory decision regarding the Kariye Mosque, which was turned into a museum with the decision of the Council of Ministers dated 29.08.1945.
Evaluating the issue of opening the Kariye Mosque to worship, the Council of State decided that "the mosque cannot be used outside of its primary function" and ruled that the 1945 decision was not in accordance with the law.
HOURS BEFORE OPENING OF MOSQUE DELAYED
Following the decision of the Council of State regarding the Kariye Mosque, it was decided to open the Kariye Mosque to the Presidency of Religious Affairs with the Presidential decree published in the Official Gazette dated August 21, 2020.
Visiting the Kariye Mosque a few days after the Presidency's decision on the matter, the President of Religious Affairs Ali Erbaş said, "With this decision, the process began. There are actions to be taken inside. Hopefully, it will be opened to worship as soon as possible after these procedures are completed. We will start with a Friday prayer."
While the Kariye Mosque was expected to be opened for worship, a shocking statement came from the Directorate of Religious Affairs.
In the statement, "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 continuation of the preparations. It is announced to the public with respect," it was said.
IT WAS PROMISED TO BE OPENED AT THE END OF THE YEAR"
The Kariye Mosque, which was announced one day before its opening, whose carpets were hastily removed, and whose pulpit was dismantled, was put under restoration again.
We asked the General Manager of Foundations, Burhan Ersoy, about the latest developments regarding the Kariye Mosque, which was decided by the Council of State that "the mosque cannot be used outside of its primary function" and was transferred to the Diyanet with the Presidential decree, and we were informed that the mosque would be opened at the end of 2021.
Ersoy, who made a statement to our newspaper on the subject, noted that the tender was made within the scope of the mosque restoration and that the works were continuing.
Ersoy, in his statement, said that they plan to open the Kariye Mosque towards the end of the year.
While the date given for the opening of the Kariye Mosque is coming, it is stated that the renovation works are still continuing and it does not seem possible to open the mosque in the near future.
OUR NEWSPAPER FOLLOWS THE SUBJECT CLOSELY
Continuing its news on the subject on behalf of the opening of the Kariye Mosque to worship, the Milli Gazete said, "The carpets have been removed, the minbar has been dismantled! Is it going back to the beginning in the Kariye Mosque?" it announced to the public that the opening of the mosque would be postponed.
“It's Second Friday, no sound!” Milli Gazete, which provided an explanation from the authorities with its headline, "What's going on in Kariye? What an endless restoration!” it reported that the opening of the Kariye Mosque for worship was postponed.