Members of Alperen Ocaklari organization having close ties with the Turkish Great Union party tried to conduct namaz at Hagia Sophia Cathedral during Qurban Bayram, Islamic feast.

According to the Turkish Milliyet newspaper, being aware of this initiative Istanbul police surrounded the cathedral at 5:00 a.m. Members of the Islamist nationalist organization gathered at the cathedral not being able to enter it. Namaz was conducted outside of the church.