An attempted arson at the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul has drawn international attention after surveillance footage revealed a man setting fire inside the historic monument. The incident occurred late at night on July 11, 2025, shortly after evening prayers.

According to Istanbul’s Security Directorate, the suspect, identified as Mesut Güçlü, entered the site unnoticed, carrying no visible flammable materials. However, footage from EKOL TV shows him wearing a red cap, bending down to light pieces of paper, which he then placed on the carpet. Flames became visible just seconds after he walked away.

A woman present at the time noticed the fire and alerted the imam, who was unable to extinguish it alone. With the help of another person in prayer, the small blaze was brought under control quickly. Fortunately, Hagia Sophia sustained minimal damage, as the fire was set near a marble column with no flammable fabric nearby.

Authorities detained Güçlü shortly after the incident and formally charged him on July 13. Reports from Turkish media outlet Yeni Şafak indicate that he had previously received psychiatric treatment at Bakırköy Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Hospital.

The incident occurred just days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stirred controversy with a post commemorating five years since the conversion of Hagia Sophia from a museum back into a mosque. In his statement, Erdoğan referred to the site as a “symbol of the conquest” and thanked God for witnessing its “resurrection.”

Built in the 6th century, Hagia Sophia holds religious and cultural significance for both Christians and Muslims, making any act of aggression against it a flashpoint for broader tensions.