NEW DELHI: After Turkey’s Hagia Sophia move, a local governor in Greece wants the restoration works of a historic mosque to be suspended.
The 17th-century Valide Mosque on the island of Lesbos in Greece is being restored under a 1.two mln euro grant from that EU local development (devt) fund for the Aegean islands.
As per media reports, the North Aegean Local Governor, Kostas Moutzourison, in his own letter sent to the Minister of Development (devt), Adonis Georgiadis, & the Minister of Finance, Christos Staikouras insisted the discontinuation of the on-going restoration works in the historic mosque must be suspended.
Hagia Sophia row
The Greek governor’s letter had come after Turkish State Council on Fri. sanctioned the conversion of the historical Hagia Sophia into a mosque that has also resulted in widespread criticism.
Constructed 1,500 yrs. back as an Orthodox Christian cathedral, Hagia Sophia has been converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1453.
In 1934 it had become a museum & is as of now a UNSECO Globe Heritage website.
On Jul 14, Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis described Turkey’s call to convert the Hagia Sophia into a mosque as “unnecessary & petty” & stated the nation is “discussing its reaction in all levels.”
Valide Mosque
Constructed in 1615, the historic Valide mosque (Mosque of the Valide Sultan) has been created to honour an Ottoman sultan’s mom.
The mosque is located within the old Turkish quarter of the city, Epano Skala.
As per its creator’s inscription above its entrance, it has been constructed in 1615, creating it one such oldest mosques within the island.