(ANSA) – ISTANBUL, APRIL 21 – The person who damaged the imperial door of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul risks from 2 to 5 years of imprisonment. This was announced by the head of the provincial direction of the Hayrullah Cebi foundations, revealing that an investigation is underway to determine the identity of the perpetrator of the vandalism. “Anyone who has committed this act faces 2 to 5 years in prison,” said Cebi, according to reports from Hurriyet.
The Turkish association for art history reported Tuesday that part of the imperial gate of Hagia Sophia had been damaged by unknown persons. The incident had been condemned by the Greek Foreign Ministry which had spoken of “disgusting vandalism”.
Built in the sixth century as a Christian basilica, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1453 but since the 1930s it has become a museum which, since 1985, has enjoyed UNESCO protection. In 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan decided to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque by removing the entrance ticket and covering part of the Christian mosaics present in the building, considered to be among the most precious examples of Byzantine art. (HANDLE).
Source: Ansa
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