Friday prayers will be held at Hagia Sophia: conservative group

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

DHA Photo

A group calling itself the Anatolian Youth has announced that it is planning to hold Friday prayers in the square outside the Hagia Sophia, and is awaiting the day when prayers will be held inside the museum, Doğan news agency has reported.

The group's members gathered at Hagia Sophia Square today to hold a press conference, saying the event was planned in accordance with the 559th anniversary of the Ottoman capture of Istanbul.

The head of Anatolian Youth, Salih Turhan, told members of the press that Hagia Sophia had been turned into a mosque by the Ottoman ruler Fatih Sultan.

"Fatih Sultan held his first Friday prayers here in the Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia awaits the day it will be reopened for prayers."

The group said they would continue campaigning to turn the museum into a mosque.