CA SR90

Expresses the California State Senate's regret over President Erdogan's July 2020 decision to convert Hagia Sophia from a museum into an Islamic mosque.

Calls upon the President and Congress of the United States to formally reaffirm that Hagia Sophia was founded and maintained as a Christian church for nearly 1,000 years and holds cultural and religious significance worldwide.

Urges the U.S. President and Congress to pressure Turkish President Erdogan to either reinstate Hagia Sophia as a museum or reclassify it as a shared house of worship open to people of different faiths on specified days.

Suggests establishing an interfaith council by Turkey to oversee stewardship of Hagia Sophia on behalf of Christian and Islamic faiths.

Directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit copies of this resolution to federal and state officials including the President, Congress members, the Governor of California, and all state legislators.