Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia opens as a mosque for Muslim prayers

Turkey Hagia Sophia

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has joined hundreds of worshippers for the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside Hagia Sophia – the Istanbul landmark that served as a cathedral, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship.

Thousands of other Muslim faithful came from across Turkey and quickly filled specially-designated areas outside of the Byzantine era monument to join in the inaugural prayers.