The comparison between Ram Janmabhoomi and Hagia Sophia (from Turkish point of view) is totally flawed.
On paper, Turkey is a secular democracy. There is no doubt that Modern turkey is far more secular than Ottoman Empire. Let us see the demographics of Turkey il last 100 years -
Image Source -Wikipedia.
The percentage of Non-Muslims around a century ago was almost 30% and not it is around 0.2% (this is somewhat similar to Pakistan). Turkish ambassador to India has compared secularism of India and Turkey. let us see the demographics of India.
Image Source - Wikipedia.
My guess is that current percentage of Hindus in India would be somewhere between 76% to 78%. India is country where more than one fifth population are non-Hindus (and this is increasing year by year) and in Turkey it is 0.2%. Can secularism in India and Turkey be compared. The last Indian PM was from a minority country and four out of 14 presidents have been from minority community.
Yes, India has its own problems and no one can deny it but you are bound to have such issues when one fifth of humanity lives in your country. Now let us compare Ram Janmabhoomi and Hagia Sophia.
- Hagia Sophia was a church and one of the most important churches of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. In 1453, after the fall of Byzantine Empire this church was converted into a Mosque. In 1526, Mughal Empire was established in India by Babur and an ancient temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram was destroyed and a mosque was built in 1528 by Mir Baqi, on orders of Babur. So here you can find similarity here that the church and temple was destroyed by foreign invaders.
- In 1935, Hagia Sophia was converted to museum by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (first President of Turkey). Atatürk vision was to make Turkey a modern nation. On the other hand Babri Mosque (which had hardly any significance in Indian Islam except for its symbolism) was destroyed in 1992. As an Indian, I accept that this was an unfortunate incident in Indian history.
- Now Indian Apex court has given the land back to Hindus (based on its importance in Hinduism and history) whereas Turkish courts have said that decision to convert Hagia Sophia as a museum was illegal (I fully respect judiciary of Turkey). So, Ram Janmabhoomi has been returned to follower of its original religion whereas Hagia Sophia has been returned to the followers of religion which had conquered that church. Hagia Sophia was built in 537 AD but a church existed there from 325 AD (which was built at a place of Pegan temple). Now we have hardly any followers of Pegan religion left with us.
- And I can understand that Hagia Sophia can't be converted into Church as hardly any Greeks (Orthodox Christian) live in Turkey but in India more than three fourth of population is still Hindu and Indian courts have made a provision to give additional land to Muslims to build a mosque nearby.
So, I think that comparison between Hagia Sophia and Ram Janmabhoomi by Turkish Ambassador in India is flawed. You should stand by your own principal (if you think its correct) but you should not compare apple to oranges.
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