"All allegations pertaining to the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque are not true" sources have reportedly said. Hagia Sophia, which is one of Istanbul's most popular historical monuments visited by tourists, served as a cathedral for almost thousand years since 1453, when it was converted into a mosque by the Ottomans with the conquest of Istanbul.
The Hagia Sophia remained a mosque until 1931 when it was closed to the public for four years. It was reopened in 1935 as a museum by the Republic of Turkey. It has served as inspiration for many other Ottoman mosques, such as the iconic Blue Mosque, Şehzade Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque, Rüstem Pasha Mosque and Kılıç Ali Paşa Mosque.
The first Quran recitation under Hagia Sophia's roof happened in April, after a total of 85 years.