Iconic Hagia Sophia now a mosque

Hagia Sophia Cathedral to be converted into a mosque after decree signed by Turkish President 

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signed a order that will see the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul - founded as a cathedral converted into a mosque.

Earlier Turkey's top administrative court annulled the museum status of the world-famous cultural site.

The cathedral was built 1,500 years-ago , the Ottoman Empire at one point turned it into a mosque,but  in 1934 it was reverted to a museum.

It is a Unesco World Heritage site. Unesco urged Turkey not to change its status without discussion.

Islamists in Turkey have long called for it to be converted to a mosque, but secular opposition members have opposed the move. The proposal has prompted criticism, from religious and political leaders worldwide.

The head of the Eastern Orthodox Church has condemned the proposal, as has Greece - home to many millions of Orthodox followers. 

President Erdogan's decree hands control of the Ayasofya Mosque, as it is known in Turkish, to Turkey's religious directorate, to reopen it for worship