July 12, 2016

Mechtild Rössler
DIRECTOR OF HERITAGE DIVISION & DIRECTOR OF THE WORLD HERITAGE CENTRE -UNESCO
World Heritage Centre (CLT/HER/WHC)

Dear Dr. Rossler,

We would like to convey to you that we have sent the following to Mrs. Bokova https://professors-phds.com/hagia-sophia/letter-to-mrs-bukova-unesco/ which expresses our concerns on the Hagia Sophia of Istanbul. At the opening ceremony of 40th World Heritage Committee session Director-General Irina Bokova was quoted as saying “When a world heritage site is destroyed, we are all diminished.”

Naturally, we could not agree more with that sentiment. That is why we have been urging Mrs. Bokova and UNESCO to publicly condemn the recent use of Hagia Sophia as a Mosque. As of this writing, eighteen academicians have added their voice to our letter, and many more are expected to follow.
We respectfully request that Mrs. Bokova and UNESCO take a public stance in support of Hagia Sophia before the conference in Turkey ends.

International Hellenic Association