Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed pleasure about the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque and congratulated the Turkish people in a phone call with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday, Turkey's Daily Sabah reported.
During his conversation with Erdoğan, Abbas hailed Turkey's decision to convert Constantinople's iconic Hagia Sophia into a mosque, Turkey's Communications Directorate said.
The 84-year-old Palestinian president, who is seen as a moderate in comparison to Hamas, has proven that he still does have a lot of common ground with the terrorist organszation.
Hamas earlier this month congratulated Turkey for its decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque, as reported by Greek City Times.
“Opening of Hagia Sophia to prayer is a proud moment for all Muslims,” said Rafat Murra, head of international press office of Hamas, in a written statement.
He then went onto say that the conversion created “sadness” for some in the Arab world.
“We have never seen them worry about Masjid al-Aqsa. We have not seen them get sad when the Zionists attack the Dome of the Rock. When the occupiers’ banned call to prayer in Al-Halil Masjid or Palestinian masjid. They did not care,” he said.
Alongside Turkey, Iran is a main backer of the Hamas terrorist organisation and expressed "joy" about the conversion of Hagia Sophia.
Abbas Mousavi, a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said: “For the opening of Hagia Sophia for worship, which was accepted with satisfaction by the people of Turkey and Muslims, we also felt joy.”
Somalia also congratulated Turkey on Saturday on the reopening Hagia Sophia as a mosque.
"Somalia Ministry of Endowments & Religious Affairs congratulates the whole Muslim world, and specifically the Turkish public, our brothers; for taking the decision to revert Hagia Sophia to its origins as a mosque,” it said on Twitter.
فإن وزارة الأوقاف والشؤون الدينية بجمهورية الصومال الفيدرالية لتهنئ الأمة الإسلامية عامة، والشعب التركي الشقيق خاصة، على قرار حكومة التركية بإعادة جامع #آيا_صوفيا إلى أصله مسجدًا يُعبد فيه الله.
((لِلَّهِ الْأَمْرُ مِن قَبْلُ وَمِن بَعْدُ ۚوَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ)) pic.twitter.com/eBByvNnnvP
— Wasaaradda Awq & Arr. Diinta (@MoERA_Somalia) July 24, 2020
