Call to prayer resounds from Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul
The former Istanbul museum will hold Muslim prayers for the first time since it was reconverted into a mosque by a presidential decree on July 10.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who will attend the afternoon prayers, visited the monument on Thursday with his wife Emine for a final inspection.
A green sign with gold lettering in Turkish, Arabic and English was unveiled, which says: The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque.
Hundreds of faithful crowded outside the former 6th-century Byzantine church, ignoring social distancing measures.
