Turkey Decries Burning Of Its Flag In Greece

Turkey's Foreign Ministry slammed Saturday that Greek authorities "provoked public and allowed burning of Turkish flag in Thessaloniki" over reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

"We strongly condemn hostile statements made by members of the Greek Government and Parliament provoking the public opinion and allowing the burning of our glorious flag in Thessaloniki," Hami Aksoy, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, said in a written statement.

Aksoy said Greece showcased its hostility against Islam and Turkey once again under the pretext of showing reaction against the reopening of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul for Muslim worship.

He said "the spoiled children of Europe", who cannot accept the reopening of the iconic architecture as a mosque, were "delirious" again.

"These racist mindsets, who have not drawn the required lessons from history, those who disrespect our glorious flag should remember their fate in the Aegean," Aksoy stressed.

"Greece should, from now on, wake up from the Byzantine dream that she has been unable to wake up for 567 years and get rid of her frustration emanating from it," he said.

The Greek oppression against the Muslim Turkish minority in the country are registered by the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, he noted, adding that Greece is the only European country which has no mosque in its capital and that it has condoned the destruction of historical mosques on its territory.

Aksoy highlighted that the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque has opened for worship in line with the will of the Turkish nation.

He added that the mosque, like other cultural assets on the Turkish lands, belongs to Turkey, and said: "... it will be in our possession and protection forever."

He also stressed that the reopening of it for Muslim worship complies with the "requirements and spirit" of 1972 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

"No country can teach Turkey about exercising her national sovereignty," he warned.

"In line with Turkey's commitment and tradition of tolerance to all religious rights and freedoms, Great Hagia Sophia Mosque, the sanctuary of Islam, the religion of peace which embraces all religions, will continue to be open to all," Aksoy said.

Also Omer Celik, a spokesman for the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, condemned the burning of Turkish flag in Greece.

"We strongly curse the burning of our glorious flag in Greece. We condemn the politicians who encouraged the Greek fascists who are trying to protest the reopening of the Hagia Sophia Mosque," Celik said on Twitter.

He added that those who hung the Byzantine flag next to the Greek flag on Friday and declared mourning cannot disrespect our flag.

"Hagia Sophia Mosque is open to everyone as a common value of all humanity," he stressed.

Hagia Sophia served as a church for 916 years until the conquest of Istanbul, and a mosque from 1453 to 1934 -- nearly 500 years -- and most recently as a museum for 86 years.

One of the most visited historic buildings in Turkey by domestic and international tourists, Hagia Sophia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985, during its time as a museum.

On July 10, a Turkish court annulled a 1934 Cabinet decree that had turned Hagia Sophia into a museum, paving the way for its use again as a mosque after an 86-year hiatus.

The first prayer since its official reconversion to a mosque was held on Friday. -