Turkey converts Chora into a mosque as USCIRF puts the spotlight on religious freedom

The Greek Current

Content provided by Hellenic Leaders and The Hellenic American Leadership Council. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Hellenic Leaders and The Hellenic American Leadership Council or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.

14d ago 10:25

MP3•Episode home

Earlier this week Turkey formally opened the monastery of Chora, a former Byzantine church and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Istanbul, as a mosque. The move follows the conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020, and has drawn international criticism. It also comes as the US Commission on International Religious Freedom once again recommended that Turkey be put on the special watch list for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom. Expert Tugba Tanyieri Erdemir joins Thanos Davelis to look at what this decision will mean for Chora Church, and look at the message it sends on religious freedom, especially in light of the latest USCIRF report.

Tugba Tanyieri Erdemir is the coordinator of Anti-Defamation League's Task Force on Middle East Minorities, serves as the co-chair of the Middle East Working Group of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, and is an expert on religious cultural heritage.

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Turkey formally opens another former Byzantine-era church as a mosque

USCIRF 2024 Annual Report

North Macedonia elects first woman president, EU-leaning coalition

Greece extends naval advisory to deter Russian oil ship-to-ship transfers

998 episodes

#News #Government #Hellenic Leaders #Greece #Cyprus #Turkey #Hellenic American Leadership Council #Hellenic #Greek