ICOM and ICOMOS Joint Statement on Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey)
ICOM = International Council of Museums
ICOMOS =International Council on Monuments and Sites
Along with the international community, ICOM and ICOMOS jointly express
their concerns regarding the decision by the Turkish authorities to reverse the
status of Hagia Sophia from a museum to a mosque, and the repercussions this
may have in terms of the conservation and accessibility of this outstanding
artistic and cultural heritage.
Since 1934, Hagia Sophia has been a museum, a decision motivated as a
symbolic gesture to openly present to the public the spectacular multilayered
cultural richness of this monument. The Turkish people and tourists from all
over the world have since then had the opportunity to visit this architectural
masterpiece and contemplate its stunning works of art of the Byzantine and
Ottoman periods, an intercultural exchange inscribed in the museum’s DNA.
ICOM has been
advocating for decades the role of museums
as meeting places open to all people without distinction,
a creative space where people can engage with cultural heritage
in all its dimensions, connecting past, present and future.
Alberto Garlandini, ICOM President
ICOMOS hopes that the artistic works representing
all the cultural layers of Hagia Sophia will continue to be
accessible side by side, as has been possible since the
creation of the museum in 1934.
Toshiyuki Kono, ICOMOS President
The importance of this shared heritage was strengthened with the
inscription of the monument on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985, and the
commitments this entails for Turkey as a State Party. It recognizes Hagia
Sophia’s role as an irreplaceable testimony of a multicultural past and the
continuing dialogue between cultures – a monument that has stood the test of
time for the benefit of the present and future generations. ICOM and ICOMOS
share the opinion that conservation and accessibility must continue to be at
the heart of the management of Hagia Sophia, regardless of its future function
and jurisdiction.
While functioning as a museum, Hagia Sophia also served as a place for
education and research, benefiting from the exchange of knowledge between
curators, scholars and specialists. The continuous discussions gathering
Turkish and international experts certainly enrich the understanding of the
monument and support the conservation efforts to mitigate the effects of time
on the structure. The discussions among experts must also continue
especially to ensure the future care of Hagia Sophia in every aspect of its
preservation.
ICOM expresses its
hope that Hagia Sofia’s function
as a museum will continue, emphasizing the importance
of its preservation and continued accessibility to the public and experts.
Peter Keller, ICOM Director General
The Hagia Sophia’s presentation, intact with all its layers,
should not be obstructed, so this magnificent monument of
world architectural history can keep inspiring us all as a
symbol of interfaith brotherhood and world peace.
ICOMOS Turkey
For these reasons, ICOM and ICOMOS, and their respective committees which
have already expressed their sadness to see this symbolic monument losing its
museum status, concur with the statements made by partner organisations such
as UNESCO as well as the academic community.
Paris, 15 July 2020
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