The controversy began when Greek YouTuber Terry Hatziremias shared an image on his social media, which featured a Greek flag superimposed on a picture of Hagia Sophia, a historical monument that holds deep cultural and religious significance to both Greece and Turkey. The post, which quickly went viral, triggered Turkish outrage over the post with Greek flag on Hagia Sophia, igniting nationalist fervor and widespread condemnation.
However, the incident sheds light on more than just social media tensions; it brings into focus the broader issue of Turkey’s controversial actions regarding Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Since its conversion back into a mosque in 2020, Hagia Sophia’s status as a symbol of tolerance, cultural heritage, and shared human history has been severely compromised by Turkey’s unilateral decision to alter its function.
The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, effectively reversing its status as a secular museum, sparked outrage globally, with UNESCO and many world leaders condemning the move as a violation of international agreements. The monument, originally constructed as a Byzantine cathedral, has long been a symbol of intercultural dialogue, having served as a mosque for nearly 500 years before becoming a museum in 1935. By altering its status, Turkey not only disrespects the cultural heritage of the global community but also breaches its obligations under the 1972 UNESCO Convention, which calls for the protection of cultural heritage sites.
Turkey’s decision to turn Hagia Sophia back into a mosque — alongside the recent offensive behavior and threatening rhetoric directed at both Greece and the international community — highlights a troubling pattern. Since the change in status, Turkey has repeatedly engaged in inflammatory actions, including calls for the “reclaiming” of cultural sites and using nationalistic rhetoric that borders on provocation. This includes statements from high-ranking Turkish officials who have called for the desecration of sites considered sacred by other nations, as well as the physical alteration of historical landmarks in ways that violate international conventions on the protection of cultural property.
While Terry Hatziremias’ post, which displayed the Greek flag over Hagia Sophia, may have offended many in Turkey, it is essential to recognize the larger context: it is Turkey’s actions — not just symbolic gestures like Hatziremias’ image — that have violated international law and disrespected the shared cultural heritage of humanity. The politicization of Hagia Sophia has led to an escalation of tensions, and Turkey’s increasingly hostile and aggressive actions in the region only serve to worsen diplomatic relations and fuel further division.
The global community, including UNESCO, continues to express concern over the deteriorating condition of Hagia Sophia as a monument of universal value, urging Turkey to reverse its decision and ensure its protection and preservation for future generations. However, as the recent offensive behavior demonstrates, Turkey seems unwilling to reconsider its stance, using nationalist sentiment as a tool to justify actions that contradict international norms.
In the context of this ongoing crisis, it’s critical to distinguish between symbolic acts like Hatziremias’ post and the far more serious issue of Turkey’s unilateral and illegal actions regarding a site of immense historical importance. As tensions mount, the international community must stand united in calling for the preservation of Hagia Sophia’s integrity as a universal cultural treasure, free from political manipulation.
“He has ties to Donald Trump!”
A post by Paul Golding, leader of the far-right Britain First Party (BNP), has sparked outrage in Turkey. Golding’s post comes amid growing calls for Istanbul to be “freed from Turkish occupation.” He shared a digitally created image of troops outside Hagia Sophia with the Greek flag flying, captioned only with the word: “Soon.” this caused Turkish outrage over the post with Greek flag on Hagia Sophia.
The Turkish media immediately condemned Golding’s post, calling it a scandal. Headlines read:
“Hagia Sophia: He can’t accept it! Scandalous post by a British politician—Turkey threatened with occupation.”
“Paul Golding, leader of Britain First, can’t stomach Hagia Sophia’s conversion back into a mosque and has issued a brazen threat to Turkey.”
Turkish news outlet TRHaber reported:
“Paul Golding, leader of the far-right Britain First Party in England, shared a provocative post on social media with the note ‘Coming Soon,’ signaling that this plan would be executed soon.”
The post came at a time of heightened cultural tensions between Turkey and Greece. Greece had declared a period of mourning when the first Friday prayers were held at Hagia Sophia in 86 years.
While the post was widely supported by many on social media, it also reflected Golding’s longstanding anti-Islamic views. Britain First is known for its anti-immigration stance.
Golding and deputy Jayda Fransen’s Twitter accounts were previously suspended for hate speech but were reinstated recently. Both gained attention when US President Donald Trump shared their Islamophobic videos last month.
Fransen was arrested in Belfast last week, where she thanked Trump and appealed for his help, saying: “I want you to help me before they put me in jail.”
Britain First has previously stirred controversy with actions in areas with large Muslim populations and its opposition to London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Golding responded humorously to Turkey’s outrage, saying: “I must be the most hated person in Turkey right now.”
The Post That Shook Twitter
A simple yet powerful digitally created image has caused an uproar on Twitter since the beginning of 2025, quickly going viral.
The image, depicting the Greek army in front of Hagia Sophia, has garnered over 5 million views. It was created using Elon Musk’s new digital image app, GROK.
Notably, two of the most significant posts featuring this image came from Angelos Chorianopoulos, an international arms analyst, and British politician Paul Golding.
Chorianopoulos, in a tweet posted in English, declared that he hoped to see Greece reclaim Constantinople in 2025. The post gained over 2 million views within just two days.
Golding, a prominent figure known for his anti-Turkish rhetoric, then shared the image with the message, “Soon, Istanbul will be Greek.” His post went viral, amassing over 3 million views. Golding has repeatedly expressed his view that Turkey is “Europe’s number one enemy.”
