A large number of supporters of the Turkish president gathered at dawn on Monday, May 29, 2023, at the Hagia Sophia in the center of Istanbul to offer morning prayers in response to the invitation of Turkish Interior Minister Suleiman Soylu. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was re-elected for a new term on Sunday, May 28, after receiving more than 52% of the vote in the second round of the presidential elections against which opposition candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu competed, and also coinciding with the anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul.
Turkish media reported on Monday that Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu led morning prayers at the Hagia Sophia Mosque on the occasion of the 570th anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul, and indicated that the head of the religious affairs department, Ali Arbash, led the faithful in morning prayers. .
She also explained that, despite the rain in the morning, the townspeople came to the Hagia Sophia mosque to pray. The head of the religious affairs department made a short speech after the prayer and said, “Let us always try to fill the Hagia Sophia Mosque, because the believers need it. We need to kneel together, stand together, prostrate together.” Ali Erbash added, addressing the congregation: “Dear brothers and sisters, today, on the 570th anniversary of the invasion, we prayed the morning prayer together at the Hagia Sophia Mosque, which is the anniversary of the conquest for us. May God accept it. .”
Turkey’s High Electoral Commission announced on Sunday evening, May 28, that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been formally re-elected for a new term after more than 99% of the boxes were sorted. The head of the High Electoral Commission, Ahmed Yanar, said at a press conference: “President Erdogan received 52.14% and Kılıçdaroğlu 47.86%, with 99.43% of ballot boxes counted.”
