The American Hellenic Council strongly condemns the actions of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to unilaterally convert Hagia Sophia from a museum and UNESCO World Heritage into a mosque.

This is a blatant violation of the UNESCO treaty of 1985 and of Mustafa Kemal Attaturk’s conversion of Hagia Sophia into a museum in 1934. It is an attempt to fully eradicate religious and cultural heritage and cover the years of restoration to its precious mosaics.

Cultural and religious heritage is too important to cover, ignore and desecrate! Hagia Sophia stood for beauty, peace and divine wisdom.

Built by the Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, Hagia Sophia stood for 1000 years as an architectural wonder and center of Orthodox & Byzantine heritage. Following 1453, it was converted to a mosque for 400 years.  Finally seeing its universal historic value, it was converted to a museum 85 years ago thus becoming the most visited tourist attraction in all of Turkey.

With the Blue Mosque just steps away and over 3000 mosques in the city, it can hardly be said that there is a need for another religious site.

There is no question that we must stand strong and boycott all travel to Turkey, all flights on Turkish Airlines, all cruise lines traveling there and call on Congress to suspend all military sales and aid. It is time for NATO to close the Incirlik Base.  Further, as Turkey continues to violate religious and human rights in this way, it is time to finally end their superficial attempt to join the European Union.

To eradicate such a symbol of cultural & religious heritage is nothing more than President Erdogan continuing his dangerous policies of confrontation, turmoil and threats.

Recognizing this illegal eradication of heritage, of breaking a treaty and even threatening peace, has resulted in a strong statement made by UNESCO that has been joined by the World Council of Churches, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, Roman Catholic Pope Francis and many other religious and political leaders.

Please call and write your Congressmen, Senators and the President and notify them that this issue requires a complete ban on all travel & aid.

Not taking immediate action will further endanger Greece and Cyprus!

Please act today!

Respectfully,
Dr. James F. Dimitriou
President & Chairman
American Hellenic Council