Turkey's top religious body head defends delivering sermon with a sword during prayers at Hagia Sophia
The head of Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet), Ali Erbaş, has defended delivering the Friday sermons at Hagia Sophia with a sword in hand, saying that it's a "widespread practice." "The fact that the sermon is delivered like is to announce that Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque and to give a message regarding conquest," he said.
Duvar English
The head of Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet), Ali Erbaş, has defended delivering the Friday sermons at Hagia Sophia with a sword in hand, saying that it's a "widespread practice."
"Delivering sermons with a sword exists in our history and traditions and is a widespread practice," Erbaş tweeted on Aug. 10.
Erbaş, whose Islamist statements often draw ire, on July 24 prompted surprise after giving a sermon at Hagia Sophia with a sword in hand, presenting an Ottoman tradition of conquest.
Despite intense criticism, he repeated the move a week later again at Hagia Sophia during Eid al-Adha prayers.
Erbaş on Aug. 10 noted that the first Friday sermon after the Conquest of Istanbul was delivered with a sword.
"It continued that way for 481 years. The fact that the sermon is delivered like is to announce that Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque and to give a message regarding conquest," he said.
Noting that the tradition has been performed in various mosques across Turkey, Erbaş said, "I'm surprised to see the approaches that criticize it."