Truck enters Hagia Sophia: İlber Ortaylı warns, 'If the structure collapses, the world will hold the Turks accountable'

The presence of heavy-tonnage construction machinery within the 1,500-year-old historical site during the ongoing restoration work at the Hagia Sophia Mosque continues to draw backlash on social media.

Historian Professor Ortaylı has also joined the debate with a post on his social media account.

In his post on Instagram, Ortaylı stated, "If that structure collapses, the world will hold the Turks accountable for it.

So, how do they know how much tonnage it can support? What data are those doing this work relying on? Did they ask Anthemios or Mimar Sinan?" he asked.

Emphasizing that the structure is filled with tunnels underneath, Ortaylı said, "Everyone who comes along treats Hagia Sophia like their father's property."

Criticizing the Ministry, Ortaylı wrote the following:

"Hagia Sophia truly cannot bear this load; they do not understand architecture at all. Forget trucks or cranes… even a car should not enter there.

The impact of these interventions will emerge sooner or later.

The structure is completely filled with tunnels underneath; everyone who comes along treats Hagia Sophia like their father's property.

I repeat: If that structure collapses, the world will hold the Turks accountable for it.

So, how do they know how much tonnage it can support? What data are those doing this work relying on? Did they ask Anthemios or Mimar Sinan?

I will write a more detailed article on this subject over the weekend."

News Source: 12punto