German MP urges end to EU-Turkey accession talks in response to converting Hagia Sophia into mosque
A German politician has called for ending the accession talks between the European Union and Turkey following Ankara's decision to convert Istanbul's Hagia Sophia into a mosque. "We should have the courage to end the EU accession negotiations with Turkey," Florian Hahn said.
Duvar English
A German politician has called for ending the accession talks between the European Union and Turkey following Ankara's decision to convert Istanbul's Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
Florian Hahn, the CDU/CSU's parliamentary group's spokesperson on European affairs, urged giving a response to Turkey's move, saying that it was "a provocation of the common European culture."
He also said that Ankara's move shows the "alienation of Turkey that has been growing for years" from the EU.
"We should have the courage to end the EU accession negotiations with Turkey," Hahn said.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared Hagia Sophia a mosque on July 10 with the first Muslim prayers to begin in two weeks, after a top court ruled the ancient building's conversion to a museum by modern Turkey's founding statesman was illegal.