As announced by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a memorial service was held at Hagia Sophia for the Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in an Israeli strike the previous day.
Despite initial reports, the Turkish president did not attend the ceremony, which followed the customary Friday prayer.
Alongside Haniyeh’s funeral in Doha, a symbolic ceremony was held at Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, attended by thousands of people.
President of Religious Affairs Erbaş conducted the memorial prayer for Haniyeh at Hagia Sophia in his absence. He stated that the Quran promises heavenly rewards to those who strive for good and reform, while those who pursue oppression, injustice, and corruption face severe punishment.
