Istanbul: While the world combats humanity’s common enemy Covid-19, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan fulfilled the demand of Islamists by turning the iconic Hagia Sophia museum in Istanbul - originally founded as a cathedral - into a mosque even as UNESCO, which had bestowed it a World Heritage status, regretted the decision and many across the world, including Turkey's Nobel-winning writer Orhan Pamuk, lamented the action as the nation's farewell to secular ideals.  more