The Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, is at the center of controversy after a tourist was harassed over her religion while trying to enter.
Since its reopening for worship in 2020, the Hagia Sophia has implemented a visitor management plan, effective from January 15, 2024, requiring foreign tourists to pay an entry fee of 25 euros while Turkish citizens enter for free. Muslim foreign tourists, including many from Arab and African countries, have been exempt from the fee when visiting for worship.
However, this system faced backlash when Ali Ertuğrul, a Turkish YouTuber living in South Korea, attempted to enter the mosque with his Korean sister-in-law, a Muslim convert, and his brother. Initially,…
