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Week 15 - Monday in Istanbul offers personal delight and national shame

Edited BY

G P Kennedy

Hagia Sofia, Istanbul

Gul - Istanbul, Turkey

 

 I love my country but I am embarrassed by and deeply ashamed of its institutions. The worst feeling, I have had for a long time is that; the magnificent and precious Hagia Sophia, the symbol is Istanbul is a victim of today’s dirty politics.  Yesterday, a Turkish court has annulled the museum status of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, which enables it to be used as mosque instead of a museum. Built 1,500 years ago as a Christian Byzantium Cathedral, now a UNESCO heritage site; it should’ve remain a museum out of respect for the country’s Christian minority and world history.

 

 Many academics from Friends of Hagia Sophia have written an open letter expressing their concerns: “Historical and archaeological evidence could be damaged, and works of art concealed. Hagia Sophia is too beautiful a monument and too precious a historical document to serve as a pawn in regional politics. Successive Byzantine, Ottoman, and Turkish governments have protected it against the ravages of time and thus maintained its significance not only for themselves, but also for those to come in the future — including all of us.” I couldn’t agree more.

 

Hagia Sofia, interior

 There is no shortage of mosques in the area. right in front of it there’s a beautiful Blue Mosque.


 It’s a very sad day for multiculturalism. I feel, I no longer had any pride in my country that we loose our own values one by one. I’m ashamed of my country that how little people seem to care.


 On the other hand, Turkey’s top lawyers were still sleeping in a park to protest a new undemocratic bill. Sadly, Turkish parliament passes controversial bar association law early hours of this morning. What a shame!


A protesting lawyer sleeps in a park

 

CORONAVIRUS TURNS TO ECONOMIC CRISIS

 In regards to the coronavirus in Turkey, the new cases are the same, still over 1000 and death rate is about 20. More businesses open their doors and more people return to work. Income, savings and spending are decreasing. We expect the economy to remain depressed for at least a year. We believe that Hagia Sophia decision is an agenda to divert voter’s attention away from the economic crisis.

 

WHAT’S SAFE FOR US?

 The urge to get our and enjoy the summer is real. But what’s safe? There’s no such thing as a zero risk outing right now. The decision what’s safe will be up to everyone. We had to fly to Istanbul and come back this week but our first flying experience since the outbreak was terrible. I have made an official complaint about the airline for not following any health and safety guidelines and none of the passengers had any self-control.

 

SURPRISE, SURPRISE


Our cat, Lila


 My sister and my two nieces work at schools that are supposed to be open end of August. Given restrictions, there is no way a school could have that many kids in their building at one time. Teachers and the other staff, like my sister and nieces might, not feel comfortable either. Anyway, my two lovely nieces and their lovely cat, Lila made a big surprise and showed up at our door unexpectedly yesterday. What a lovely surprise!  Our summerhouse is louder happier now.

 

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