Saeed Naqvi | Will Erdogan’s Islamist play at Hagia Sophia rescue his govt?

A powerful anti-West Islamist party, Refah, or Welfare, took shape and spread like prairie fire

Five things to know about the Hagia Sophia

The conversion of the edifice, once an important church of Christendom and 'jewel' of Byzantine Empire, has led to an international outcry

Hagia Sophia is the fourth Byzantine church museum in Turkey to be thrown open for prayers again

US State Department said it was ‘disappointed’ by the decision and looks forward to seeing how Turkey plans to keep the landmark open to all

The decision to turn the former cathedral to a place of muslim worship has sparked deep dismay among country's Orthodox Christians