Este es el alarmado mensaje enviado por Alessandra Ricci, una arqueóloga italiana que vive y excava en Estambul y enseña en la Koç University:
As a Byzantinist working in Turkey, I feel the
obbligation to share with the larger
community of Byzantinists around the world, the
latest in a series of statements by high
ranking Turkish politicians about the conversion of the Aya Sofya in Istanbul into a
mosque.
The interview below is with Vice PM
Bulent Arinc, a member of the AKP ruling
party and, commonly regarded as a moderate
within the party and vis-a-vis PM
Erdogan. In the interview, Arinc
does put forth a strong and unconditional
wish to see the Aya Sofya open for «ibadet».
Arinc does also pride himself for the successful conversion of two
other Aya Sofya in Turkey – Iznik and Trabzon.
This email is to encourage all Byzantine Studies National Committees
to initiate an internal dialogue among their constituencies in order to
verify sentiments about this proposal and, to discuss a sustainable
course of action. Please, do feel free to circulate
it widely.
In advance, I would like to extend my gratitude to those who will take this matter at heart.
Regards,
Alessandra Ricci