Ankara (AsiaNews) Turkish Islamo-nationalists have begun demonstrating against Benedict XVI's visit to Turkey. The Saadet (Happiness) Party announced a great rally for Sunday in Istanbul whilst 40, some sources say 120, people have taken over Haghia Sophia, one of the sites the Pope was scheduled to visit during his trip.
Saint Sophia was until the 15th century the biggest church in the Christian East. It was later turned into a mosque and is now a museum, but its symbolic value remains the same.
As soon as the papal visit was announced Islamo-Nationalists objected to this part of the visit, fearing that Benedict XVI might pray in the former church.
Saadet, a small party that got just over 1 per cent of the vote in the last election, said it would bring "a million people" into the street. Two thousand buses have been rented for that purpose.
Saadet's leader Osman Yumakogullari said that opposition to the visit is due to the Pope's Regensburg's speech.
Saadet is one of two parties created by breakaway members of the Fazilet (Virtue) Party; the other is the Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (AKP) or Justice and Development Party of current Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan denied today allegations that Mr Erdogan and Foreign Minister Gul were "escaping" Turkey to avoid meeting the Pope.
He said that whilst Turkey was aware of the importance of Benedict XVI's visit, the Vatican knew that Erdogan and Gul would be attending a NATO meeting during the Pope's visit to Turkey before the papal visit was scheduled.