Outside Hagia Sophia.
I was in Istanbul for the World Movement for Democracy conference last Alpril. It was a big international conference comprising NGO activists and politicians from all parts of the world who gathered to discuss democracy.
What impressed me was not the grand conference, but the host country, Turkey.
Turkey is a very interesting country and her capital city, Istanbul, is at the border of both Asia and Europe.
The most interesting tourist spots are Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Hagia Sophia maintains all the Christian holy picture paintings, exemplify the meeting and peaceful co-existance of two civilisations, Islam and Christianity.
Anwar Ibrahim delivers a key-note speech during the openning of the conference.
Malaysian participants at the conference. From left: Debbie Stothard (Altsean-Burma), Steven Gan (Malaysiakini), Syed Azman (PAS), Tian Chua (Keadilan) and Sassy MP.
Malaysian participants having chat with Anwar Ibrahim.
Mother Mary and little Jesus on the round dome of Hagia Sophia.
Painting of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Painting on the dome that symbolises the co-existence of the two civilisations.
Inside Hagia Sophia. The round plate with Quranic wording and Mary’s picture on the dome reflects the co-existence of two great religions.
Outside Blue Mosque