Turning of Hagia Sophia To A Mosque Has Two Dimensions, Losing Popularity Of Erdogan And Impact Of Global Rise Of Fundamentalism
By
Ram Puniyani for New Age Islam
05 August
2020
Last three
decades have seen a drastic shift in the global political scenario. Earlier
decades were marked by national liberation struggles; focus on the issues
related to ‘this World’. Many a countries who came out from the grip of
colonialism, under different banners gave primacy to industrialisation,
education and agricultural growth. India, Vietnam, Cuba being some of those,
which despite the remnants of fundamentalists, marched towards the states
upholding the concerns of the struggling and deprived people of the countries,
away from the stifling grip of politics in the name of religion. Of course,
there were some of the countries where the rulers allied with the clergy to
keep alive the feudal norms, perpetuating the grip of backwardness. These had
sectarian approach to their policies. Our two neighbours Pakistan and Myanmar
do fall in this category.
From the
decade of 1980s many factors contributed to the retreat of secular democratic
forces and politics wearing the clothes of religion marched trampling the
inclusive ethos, marginalising the welfare policies and giving a go by to
development and progress as far as industrialisation and education is
concerned. Last three decades in particular has seen the increasing hegemony of
politics in the name of religion. Terminologies like Islamism, Hindutva,
Christian fundamentalism, Buddhist fundamentalism have come to the fore,
becoming more assertive and taking these countries down from the path
development and worsening the lot of large sections of society.
Also
Read: A Nationalist Takeover of Hagia Sophia is not What the
Muslim World Needed Now
Currently
in US, Donald Trump is making subtle and overt appeal in the name of
Christianity and Ashin Wirathu in Myanmar has been promoting violence in the
name of Buddhism. Similar is the phenomena in Sri Lanka, where Wirathu’s clones
are on the ascendance. In India the Hindutva has made massive strides. In
Afghanistan, Al Qaeda Taliban has tormented West and Central Asia apart from
Afghanistan itself. The most blatant expressions of these have been the
mutilation of the idols of Lord Gautama Buddha in Afghanistan. Similarly, demolition of Babri Mosque in
Ayodhya is a painful chapter which was used as springboard by Hindu
nationalists.
These are
just visible symbols, while the socio-economic impact has been dangerously
retrograde, the status of rights as citizens, rights of minorities have
suffered a severe setback at the same time. This does reflect the direction of
global trend. Many slogans have been dominating the scene. Earlier the major
propaganda from imperialist forces was ‘Free World versus authoritarian system
(socialism)’, later in the aftermath of 9/11 the ruling phrase has been
‘Islamic terrorism’. Currently different fundamentalisms are ruling the roost,
stifling the democratic ethos and undermining human rights in general.
It is in this
background that conversion of Hagia Sophia from a museum to Mosque can be
understood. Turkey was one of the major countries which under the leadership of
Kemal Ataturk had embraced the path of secularism, overthrowing the Caliphate
the carryover of Ottoman Empire. This Caliphate even had some approval from
section of global Muslim community. Ataturk had unshakable commitment to
secularism and Hagia Sophia, which initially was a Church and changed to a
mosque in 15th Century was converted to a Museum, a space for all with equal
and due respect. Erdogan, who has been at the forefront of power from last many
years; has been gradually shifting to Islamism. Islamism is to Islam what
Hindutva is to Hinduism or Christian fundamentalism is to Christianity. Erdogan
rose in the power hierarchy from the competent mayor of Istanbul to later
become Prime Minister of Turkey. After the initial years where he could deliver
on economic front, he slipped into self-adulation and power hunger kept him
shifting the ulcrum of politics towards Islamic identity. The downslide in the
condition of the citizens was pathetic and it also got reflected in Erdogan
losing the local body elections.
@MiddleEastMnt/ Israel converts historical mosque into a bar and events
hall
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This is when
his turn to Islamism has become more overt and this grand structure of
Istanbul, more or less the most important architectural symbol of Turkey, was
converted in to a mosque. Sections of Muslims are celebrating this as ‘victory
of Islam’. Other Muslims more committed to values and humanism of Islam; are
severely critical of this move of Erdogan. They point out that there is no
compulsion in Islam in matters of religion. (To you your religion, to me
mines). This is in contrast to the popular belief that in India Islam spread on
the point of sword.
These
serious scholars of Islam also remind us that, at one point of time Prophet
Mohammad even invited non-Muslims to the mosque to offer their prayers. Of
course, each religion has multiple sub sects and multiple philosophies
associated with each. Islam has the range of Shia, Sunni, Khoja, Bohra and Sufi
with various legal streams like Hanafi, Hannabali etc. Christians, do have
Catholics with few sub streams and Protestants again with many streams. Each
claim to be the ‘real’ one. While perhaps what is real in the religions is the
love and compassion for fellow human beings. Some aspects of religions are just
a cover for lust of power. So we also see that some will approve Jihad, others
will defend Crusades and yet another will uphold Dharm Yudh.
The turning
of Hagia Sophia to a mosque has two dimensions, one of the losing popularity of
Erdogan so resorting to populism of religion as a crutch to hold to power, and
other is the impact of global rise of fundamentalism in many a countries. In
1920s Kemal Ataturk could take on the mighty institutions of ‘religion’ to
introduce the secular policies on solid secular foundations. In turn of events
during last many decades the fundamentalism has hit back. The main reasons have
been the role of America in propping up Al Qaeda to counter the Russian army in
Afghanistan and later decline of Soviet Union leading to emergence of America
as sole super power for some time. America did proactively promote
fundamentalism at multiple places. That set the ball rolling and gradual
occupation of secular space by the language of religion. What we are witnessing
in Turkey is yet example of this retrograde phenomenon.
Related
Articles:
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-politics/turning-hagia-sophia-mosque-two/d/122551
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