Muslim Prayers Held Inside The Hagia Sophia For The First Time In 85 Years

A man draped in a Turkish flag stands as people walk inside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia following the inaugural Friday prayers. Critics have said that the President is trying to please nationalistic base in the country. AP/PTI(AP24-07-2020_000215B)

Several cabinet ministers and other top officials also joined the huge crowd of worshippers who had gathered for the inaugural prayers. (Getty Images)

After the decision to convert the Hagia Sophia into a mosque UNESCO said in a statement ‘regrets the decision of the Turkish authorities, made without prior discussion, to change the status of Hagia Sophia.’(Getty Images)

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also joined the prayers on Friday. His order came after a top court in the country declared the 1953 order of converting the monument into a museum as illegal. AP/PTI(AP19-07-2020_000170B)

In 1935, Turkish President and founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk issued an order to convert it into a museum. The monument was given the status of a UNESCO world heritage. One of the finest examples of byzantine architecture, it is famous for its mosaics and intricately carved marble pillars. (Getty Images)

The Hagia Sophia was constructed in the Byzantine era as a cathedral during the reign of emperor Justinian I in 537. It was converted into a mosque after the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman in 1453.(Getty Images)

After almost 86 years, Muslim prayers were held in the iconic Hagia Sophia located in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday, July 24. Hundreds of Muslim worshippers including the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who recently issued the order to convert the Hagia Sophia from museum into a mosque joined the prayers. (Getty Images)