Fair enough. But if Turkey feels no sense of responsibility to its non-Muslim minorities, or to the rest of the world, why is it still a member in good standing of NATO and considered an American ally?
“Turkey’s provocative response to UNESCO: It’s our right to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque,” Orthodox Times, July 26, 2021:
Turkey has given a provocative response to UNESCO over its decision on Hagia Sophia, following the Organization’s strong concern about the implications of these changes for the universal character of the two monuments.
This decision, as reported by iefimerida.gr, reflects, among other things, the deepest regret of the Committee for the lack of dialogue and relevant information of Turkey’s intentions to change the character of Hagia Sophia and the Chora Church, despite repeated calls on Turkey to comply with the instructions of the Unesco’s guidelines.
In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said:
“The Grand Mosque of Hagia Sophia and the Chora Mosque, the components of the World Heritage Site “Historic Areas of Constantinople”, are restituted to mosque upon the decisions of the Turkish Council of State following a legal process. The Hagia Sophia and the Chora are the properties of the Republic of Turkey
The functional usage of the Hagia Sophia and the Chora are solely related to Turkey’s sovereign rights. Since the Hagia Sophia, that is opened to worship one year ago, was registered in its Foundation Deed as a mosque, its functioning accordingly is only an act of restitution and exercising sovereignty rights….
SAFI says
Get this! A Church which in its present form(there had earlier been another church with the same name on the same spot) was constructed decades before Muhammad’s reputed date of birth was registered in its Foundation Deed as a mosque…
On a more serious note, rather than a mere “exercise” of sovereign rights it was among other things, as Robert Spencer wrote in a previous article, a calculated insult to the infidels and a symbolic demonstration of turkish-islamic supremacism. But I say fine, just give the Turks the same “sovereign rights” answer next time Ergogan tries to stick his big nose in how other countries deal with the Islamic plague on their territory like he most recently tried to chastise the leaders of France and Austria over some recent “islamophobic” legislation. And Greece could surely at least use a bit of tit for tat with any turkish mosques on their territory(from what I’ve heard there’s hundreds of functioning ones in some northern parts of their country). Just take the same turkish foreign ministry statement about sovereignty and replace Hagia Sophia and Chora church with whatever ottoman mosque you’re shutting down this week. Alas I’m afraid the West as a whole is too “polite”(emasculated) to respond to such insults the way in which the age old principle of reciprocity would demand. Erdogan has already figured this out hence why he acts so emboldened.
Infidel says
More than that, if that’s what Turkey feels about its non muslim minorities, how does it dare tell Israel anything about Jerusalem or India anything about Kashmir? Yeah, I know that they have double standards, but the UN ain’t the OIC and doesn’t officially work by shariah rules.
jim says
We should not use a double standard that privileges enemies. When they aggress, we should not simply turn the other cheek. Christians should do this, not necessarily sovereign nations. Our survival as countries in the West is at statke, and we should not privilege our enemies. Yet this is what is done by countries like Turkey. We should take some actions. Close their embassies or fobid them to finance Mosques and cultural centers in the US. We do not have to take outright insults to our culture and civilizatio
seabird says
So Recep Tayyip Erdogan should have no problem with “restituting” that building on the Mount into a big, beautiful new Temple, right?
Do you know (from articles I’ve read) that despite Turkey’s attempts to recreate itself as the genocidal “young Turk” Govt of a 100 years ago and being thrown-out of the F-35 program; Turkey still manufactures about 1,000 parts for the F-35 and will continue doing so into 2022?
PMK says
‘Turkey still manufactures about 1,000 parts for the F-35 and will continue doing so into 2022
That’s what globalization brings us. Medicines from China, rare earths from other unstable countries. Someday there will be an embargo (as OPEC did with oil in the 1970’s), and then where will we be? Global trade is all the rage. Economic warfare is being waged against us and none of our ‘leaders’ care. A million fighter jets won’t make a difference if they can’t be used due to lack of fuel or want of spare parts.
James Lincoln says
PMK,
And automobile manufacturers are dependent upon chips from Taiwan…
gravenimage says
James, I trust Taiwan a great deal more than I do Turkey…
Infidel says
Speaking as someone formerly from that industry, the manufacture of chips is as distributed as something can be. Since it’s all very price sensitive due to being driven by high volumes, every part of the production flow is done at the most cost effective, if not the downright cheapest facility. Die may be manufactured in Korea, packaging may happen in the Philippines, testing may happen in China… Generally, for chips, the ‘Made in’ label that you see on a chip indicates the location where it is packaged: the die inside it may actually be manufactured somewhere else
I agree w/ PMK. The consulting companies did a great job persuading manufacturers to outsource every part of their operation to drive down costs, which would either help them meet ASP erosions (most common), maximize profits and erode labor costs. This is called manufacturing efficiency, but it has cost thousands, if not millions, their jobs
Trump had the right idea in exploring mining opportunities in various places in the US, and also our trying to secure the supply of rare earth minerals in countries like Chile and Argentina, rather than have to depend on that from China. But this administration has no clue about what it’s doing, or (more likely, imo) is being paid off). By the time 2024 comes, China will have closed a major advantage that we have
James Lincoln says
gravenimage,
True enough – I also trust Taiwan – but the United States should still strive to be less dependent upon foreign chipmakers in general…
PMK says
Precisely. Taiwan is a friend of the US but how safe is it? How long will it be before China takes it over, as it did Hong Kong? China is not known for living up to its international agreements.
gravenimage says
Thanks for that information, Infidel.
gravenimage says
Turkish Foreign Ministry to UNESCO: Conversion of Hagia Sophia to mosque was exercise of ‘sovereign rights’
…………..
In other wrods, we slaughtered everyone taking sanctuary in this Church, so it’s ours fair and square. This is how Muslims think–it ain’t pretty.
VICTOR COWEN says
I have been to Turkey twice in my lifetime when it was a civilized enjoyable country with delightful people.
Er….you have guessed it…NEVER AGAIN.
BTW: Why is their military occupation of Northern Cyprus rarely mentioned.? I truly don’t understand the world anymore.
OLD GUY says
Turkey should be removed from NATO and the good old USA should stop sending millions in foreign aid and move its bases out of Turkey.
gravenimage says
+1