Russia to help Syria build ‘another’ Hagia Sophia

After the conversion, Hagia Sophia will get a miniature replica of itself but not in Turkey this time. The Syrian regime has announced plans to build a replica of Istanbul’s grand mosque, Hagia Sophia after Turkey decided to convert this UNESCO world heritage site into a mosque.

Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, has decided to take help of Russia to build the grand structure. Russia has been one of the strongest allies of Assad and has agreed to assist in building the mini Hagia Sophia in Hama to show the importance of "peaceful dialogue" between faiths, Al-Rai Al-Youm reported.

According to the Lebanon-based news outlet Al-Modon, the idea for the building was initiated by a man named Nabeul Al-Abdullah, the head of a pro-regime loyalist militia within the province. After gaining the approval of the metropolitan bishop of the Greek Orthodox church in Hama, Nicolos Baalbaki, the plans were then presented to the Russian military within Syria.

Further details in the report revealed that the replica is to be built specifically in the Greek Orthodox-majority city of Al-Suqaylabiyah, on a piece of land donated by the militia leader Al-Abdullah; a Russian team within Latakia’s Hmeimim military base is reportedly already working on plans for the construction. According to the Arabic-language newspaper Rai Al-Youm, Russian lawmaker Vitaly Milonov made a strong remark on Turkey saying that Syria is the ideal location for the mini Hagia Sophia replica because “unlike Turkey, it is a country that clearly shows the possibility of peaceful and positive interfaith dialogue.”

This move is being touted as revenge from the Syrian side to Turkey against whom the former is fighting a civil war. As a go ahead for the structure, militia leader Al-Abdullah donated a piece of land on which the structure will be built. Through this the militia leader hopes to strengthen his ties with Russia in case the Assad government falls.

Last month, Turkey decided to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque after which first Friday prayers were held in the building after 86 years last week.

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