Cats held a respected place in the society of the Ottoman Empire, they were welcomed, protected, and often loved. Their presence reflected a combination of religious tradition, urban culture, and charitable practice that shaped the way Ottoman people interacted with...

Qurratulayn Mariyam Saiyed For eighty-six years there was an emptiness in the halls of the Ayasofya Camii, the walls crying in longing for the call to prayer to resound in its chambers. But in 2020, the Turkish government reinstated the building as a mosque, affirming...