UNESCO statement on the status of the Hagia Sophia Basilica in Istanbul
Article published on 15-07-2020
The Director-General of UNESCO deeply regrets the decision of the Turkish authorities, made without prior discussion, to change the status of Hagia Sophia, and, on the evening of July 10th, she shared her serious concerns with the Ambassador of Turkey to UNESCO.
Hagia Sophia is part of the
Historic Areas of Istanbul, a property inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. “Hagia Sophia is an architectural masterpiece and a unique testimony to interactions between Europe and Asia over the centuries. Its status as a museum reflects the universal nature of its heritage, and makes it a powerful symbol for dialogue,” said Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
The full UNESCO declaration on this case is available at the
following link.
