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Cathedral Hagia Sophia, A 1500 years old church converted to mosque, Turkey’s President said its Turkey’s ‘sovereign right’.

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Claiming it to be Turkey’s ‘sovereign right’, the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, July 10, announced the UNESCO World Heritage site, Hagia Sophia, a 1500-year-old Orthodox Christian Cathedral in Instanbul to be converted into a mosque after Turkish court ruling. A top court of Turkey has passed the order to convert world-famous Hagia Sophia museum once again into a mosque.
Hagia Sophia is an iconic structure in Istanbul whose construction started during the reign of Justinian I, the ruler of the Byzantine Empire in 532 AD. At that time Istanbul was known as Constantinople. This epochal monument was originally a cathedral before it was transformed into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1453. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder ofthe Republic of Turkey, in the 1930s, closed down the mosque and turned it into a museum aiming to make the country more secular. But since a long time now there have been regular calls from Islamists and nationalists in the country to convert the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque.

The order of the highest court stated, “It was concluded that the settlement deed allocated it as a mosque and its use outside this character is not possible legally. The cabinet decision in 1934 that ended its use as a mosque and defined it as a museum did not comply with laws.”

As reported, Erdogan said in a national address, “With this court ruling, and with the measures we took in line with the decision, Hagia Sophia became a mosque again, after 86 years, in the way Fatih the conqueror of Istanbul had wanted it to be.”

In a press conference, Erdogan informed that the first Muslim prayers would be held inside Haga Sophia on July 24. He also told, ” Like all our mosques, the doors of Hagia Sophia will be wide open to locals, and foreigners, Muslims and Non-Muslims.” The Turkish officials clearly mentioned that the Christian emblems  like mosaics of the Virgin Mary on the golden dome of the cathedral would not be removed.

According to Erdogan, the status of Hagia Sophia is their domestic matter where any intervention from ‘international players’ is not welcome. This decision has prompted criticism from various religious and political leaders from across the globe.

Reportedly, UNESCO has stated that it deeply regrets this decision of converting the museum into a mosque and has asked Turkish authorities to immediately open a dialogue without delay. UNESCO  further added that its World Heritage Committee would review Hagia Sophia’s status. The Eastern Orthodox Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, Cyprus, the US and Greece too have criticized this decree and have condemned it. They also accused this Turkey’s decision of ignoring voices of millions of Christians. Hagia Sophia has long been the symbol of Muslim- Christian Cultural Rivalry and this decision could now lead to greater divisions since Hagia Sophia is a site which is equally revered by both, Christians and Muslims.

 

It is apparent that Erdogan headed Turkish government has quashed  its secular foundations with this step. Is this decision taken to strengthen the Islamisation of the Turkish society and to gain political mileage? However, the political gain would be short term but can cost long term disharmony between Christians and Muslims.

Hagia Sophia, famous for the grandeur of its iconic dome, is the landmark of Istanbul and is a magnet for tourists worldwide. Today, it is Turkey’s most popular tourist attraction drawing more than 3.6 million visitors last year.

 

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Navi Mumbai Police Arrest African National With Rs 1 Crore Worth Of Cocaine In Ulwe

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The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of Navi Mumbai Police arrested Jeorge Ocante DaSilva, a 35-year-old native of Guinea, on Monday for possessing 410 grams of cocaine, allegedly intended for illegal sale. Acting on a tip-off, API Alka Patil of the AHTU led a raid at RM Heights Building in Ulwe, where DaSilva was found in possession of the narcotics.

Around 2:30 p.m. on October 28, officers discovered 410 grams of cocaine, valued at approximately Rs 1,02,50,000, hidden in DaSilva’s bedroom. Authorities also seized a mobile phone, a black Tabata weighing scale, scissors, plastic packaging bags, and a sky bag, bringing the total seizure value to Rs 1,02,55,610.

An FIR was filed at Panvel City Police Station under Sections 8(a) and 21(a) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Dasilva was presented in court and remanded to police custody until October 31, 2024. Investigations are ongoing, with the Crime Branch seeking potential accomplices and sources of the narcotics. Notably, Dasilva has a prior NDPS case registered at Nahar Police Station in Mumbai.

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Taloja Society Chairman Detained For Allegedly Abusing Residents And Objecting To Diwali Decorations

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The chairman of a housing society in Taloja Phase One has been detained by Taloja police following allegations of verbal abuse toward residents, including women, and objections to Diwali lighting in the complex. The incident occurred on Tuesday night, sparking outrage among residents.

According to the police, the chairman is accused of abusing a woman with intent to insult her modesty, provoking a breach of peace, and engaging in criminal intimidation. A formal complaint was filed, and the chairman was promptly taken into custody.

The situation intensified after a video of the incident went viral on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), showing a group of men, allegedly from the housing society, verbally abusing residents and threatening to halt Diwali decorations. The video received widespread attention, with users expressing shock over the treatment of residents.

Police officials confirmed that the chairman’s detention is part of an ongoing investigation into the incident. Residents are awaiting further action as authorities work to address the disturbance and ensure the safety of the community amid Diwali festivities.

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Thane Sees Surge of Nomination Filings for 2024 Vidhan Sabha Election

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The final day for filing nominations for the 2024 Vidhan Sabha General Election witnessed a surge of candidates in Thane district, with a total of 281 applications submitted across 18 assembly constituencies. This high turnout signals a competitive race for seats in the upcoming election.

Among the nominees, 114 candidates represent various political parties, while 167 have filed as independents, reflecting a diverse array of participants aiming to represent Thane’s voters. Nominations were filed throughout the day with election decision officers at each constituency, marking an essential step in the electoral process.

Collector and District Election Decision Officer Ashok Shingare announced that the scrutiny of these nomination forms is scheduled for October 30, 2024. Following this verification process, candidates who wish to withdraw their names from the race may do so until November 4, 2024.

As the election date approaches, Thane’s political landscape appears more dynamic than ever, with a record number of candidates ready to contest the assembly seats, making for an engaging electoral season for voters and candidates alike.

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