Transforming the Judiciary into the Proxies of The Rulers: The Hagia Sophia Case

Abstract

On 2 July 2020, the Turkish Council of State (Danıştay) paved the way for the Hagia Sophia museum to be converted into a mosque.1 Then, the President of the Republic issued a decree, ordering Hagia Sophia to be opened for prayers immediately after the Court announced that it had revoked Hagia Sophia’s status as a museum.2 Several commentators have already criticised the decision with respect to the historical role of Hagia Sophia. They mostly focused on the political features,3 cultural implications,4 and the compliance with international law and human