05.09.2026 15:10
A controversy erupted when an image of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque was displayed in the background while actress Neslihan Atagül was on stage at an awards ceremony she attended in Italy. While some considered the situation natural as a global symbol of Turkey, others reacted with an emphasis on cultural and religious sensitivity. It emerged that the footage, which quickly became a trending topic, was from 2024.
The image of Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque being reflected in the background while actress Neslihan Atagül was on stage at an awards ceremony held in Italy sparked a major controversy.
After the footage quickly spread on social media platforms, users made different comments:
- Normalizing View: A group of users who viewed the situation as natural stated that Hagia Sophia is one of Turkey's most well-known global symbols and historical heritages, arguing that the image was chosen to represent Turkey, with comments like "What's wrong with that?"
- Reacting View: Another group who reacted to the situation criticized the use of the symbol as a background element in a ceremony setting without considering cultural and religious sensitivities. Users in this group tagged the relevant ministries on social media, calling for "An investigation must be launched immediately."
THE FOOTAGE IS FROM 2024
On the other hand, it was revealed that the footage, shared thousands of times on social media in a short period, dates back to 2024.