31 July 2020
The
historic Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, designated a mosque once again
earlier this month by the Turkish Government, should be maintained as an
inter-cultural space “reflecting the diversity and complexity of Turkey
and its history”, said two independent human rights experts on Friday.
The Human Rights Council-appointed experts are urging authorities to preserve the “outstanding universal value” which resulted in the 1,500-year-old basilica, World Heritage Status, according to a press release.
Avoid division
“It would be an historic mistake at this difficult global moment to
take actions which divide religious and cultural groups in Turkey and
beyond, rather than uniting them”, said Karima Bennoune, Special Rapporteur for cultural rights, and Ahmed Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. “As someone said, ‘the dome of the Hagia Sophia should be big enough to include everyone’.”
Initially constructed as one of the finest examples of Byzantine
Christian architecture in the world, the Hagia Sophia became a mosque
for the first time, in 1453 under the Ottoman Empire, and following
Turkey’s secularization in the 20th Century, became a museum in 1934.
It would be an historic mistake at this difficult global moment to take actions which divide religious and cultural groups in Turkey and beyond, rather than uniting them - UN human rights experts
The site has been used by people of all faiths, including Christians
and Muslims, and non–religious people, and widely celebrated down the
decades, as an example of inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue.
The experts expressed concern that the Turkish government’s decision
on 10 July to change the status of the building, and the “hasty
implementation of this decision”, may violate Turkey’s obligations under
rules derived from the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention, said the experts.
‘Global importance’
“We share UNESCO’s concern that the transformation of a site of
outstanding universal value requires prior notice and consultation with
all stakeholders to ensure that the human rights of all are respected”,
they said. “The Hagia Sophia is Turkey’s most visited attraction, and
is a monument of global importance.”
The experts also stressed the importance of appropriate arrangements
for the care of the site, following conflicting reports regarding the
measures put in place. “We urge the Government of Turkey to clarify the
arrangements, and ensure that cultural heritage experts continue to be
responsible for the conservation of this monument. International and
technical standards must be fully respected”, the independent experts
added.
Language referencing conquest used in the debate about the site, has
heightened the experts’ concerns, together with the display of a sword,
that could be construed as a symbol of conquest, by the head of the
State Religious Affairs Agency during a high-level prayer service to
mark the site’s change in status, last Friday, said the UN experts – an
event that was also attended by Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey. (File) Photo: UNESCO
Danger of ‘supremacist view’ emerging
“In light of such developments, the experts fear that the change of
status of the Hagia Sophia to a monolithic site could reflect a
supremacist view of history”, said the press release, raising up a
single cultural narrative, “rather than the meeting of cultures - the
spirit which resulted in its World Heritage status - and could prevent
access to the site on an equal footing for people of all faiths”, and
none.
“We are gravely concerned about the rights of everyone to access and
enjoy cultural heritage, about inter-faith co-existence and secular
spaces, and about the equality and safety of religious minorities,
including Christians”, the experts said.
Likewise, they called for tolerance overall, in the hope that
opposition to the mosque designation elsewhere in the world, will
reflect universal values and non-discrimination, rather than offering a
competing monolithic vision which fosters hatred against Muslims. “It
is essential to refrain from instrumentalizing cultural heritage and
instead to engage with heritage in its diversity in such a way as to
allow cultural rights to flourish for all.”
Engage in inclusive dialogue
“We encourage the Turkish Government to engage in dialogue with all
stakeholders. This is essential to guarantee that the Hagia Sophia
continues to be a space for the enjoyment of cultural rights by all,
reflecting its diverse Christian, Muslim and secular heritages, and that
it continues to be a symbol which brings all people in Turkey
together”, said the experts.
Special Rapporteurs are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for
their work. They are independent from any government or organization,
and serve the UN human rights system, in their individual capacity.