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Hagia Sophia and the Council of State's 2020 judgment

Tracks opinions on the Council of State 10th Chamber's annulment of the 1934 Council of Ministers decision that had designated Hagia Sophia as a museum, the presidential decision published the same day, and the debate over its legal status and appeal.

Administrative lawConstitutional adjudicationSecularism and religion–state relationsCultural heritage
34 legal opinions + 1 bar statementsLast updated: Jun 18, 2026

Opinion distribution

Details

Was the Council of State 10th Chamber's 2020 annulment of the 1934 Council of Ministers decision designating Hagia Sophia as a museum lawful?

Unlawful
23 legal opinions + 1 bar association
70.3%
Lawful
11 legal opinions
29.7%

Results by decision

Timeline

  1. Oct 19, 2016
    Other

    Case event

    Source-linked event record for this case; consult the cited sources for the original details.

  2. Jul 2, 2020
    Decision issued

    Case event

    Source-linked event record for this case; consult the cited sources for the original details.

  3. Jul 2, 2020
    Hearing held

    Council of State hearing was held

    The parties were heard before the Council of State 10th Chamber; the Council of State prosecutor argued that the case should be dismissed on procedural grounds and on the merits.

  4. Jul 10, 2020
    Decision issued

    Case event

    Source-linked event record for this case; consult the cited sources for the original details.

  5. Jul 24, 2020
    Implemented

    Case event

    Source-linked event record for this case; consult the cited sources for the original details.

  6. Aug 10, 2020
    Finalized

    Case event

    Source-linked event record for this case; consult the cited sources for the original details.

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