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ANKARA: State Minister Sahin: No Plans To Give Away The Hagia Sophia

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  • ANKARA: State Minister Sahin: No Plans To Give Away The Hagia Sophia

    STATE MINISTER SAHIN: NO PLANS TO GIVE AWAY THE HAGIA SOPHIA

    Hurriyet, Turkey
    Sept 27 2006

    State Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin yesterday in Ankara responded to
    opposition claims that the Hagia Sophia was "being given away" by
    showing MPs in his parliamentary group a photocopy of the historical
    building's title deed. Said Sahin to a group of MPs, "Look, I am
    holding a copy of the deed. The Hagia Sophia was the pious trust
    of Fatih Sultan Mehmet. And the deed for that pious trust is under
    the General Directorate of Foundations, which is connected to my
    ministry. So, don't worry. We own the Hagia Sophia, and we are not
    thinking of giving it to anyone."

    Speaking on the subject of a declaration published in newspapers and
    written by 184 ethnically Greek and Armenian citizens of Turkey, Sahin
    said "Can there really be any difference, as far as our constitution
    is concerned, between Muslim and non-Muslim citizens of the Turkish
    Republic? Why are people giving in to suspicions like this?"
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