A proposal to ban all Turkish imports into the United States until Hagia Sophia is returned to the Greek Orthodox Church has reignited debate over the historic monument, with a former South Carolina Senate candidate calling for sweeping economic pressure on Ankara.
Republican candidate Mark Lynch announced the proposal on April 26, 2026, saying he would introduce federal legislation titled the “Return the Hagia Sophia to the Church Act” if elected to the US Senate.
The proposed legislation would prohibit all imports from Turkey until ownership of Hagia Sophia is transferred to the Greek Orthodox Church.
Lynch cited approximately US$17.52 billion in American imports from Turkey during 2025 and argued that Washington should use its economic influence to secure the monument’s return to Christian ownership. TA NEA+1
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Lynch calls 2020 conversion an injustice
In his announcement, Lynch described Turkey’s 2020 decision to convert Hagia Sophia from a museum back into a functioning mosque as “one of the greatest injustices in Christian history”.
He also called the decision an act of cultural theft and criticised the response of American political leaders at the time.
Lynch said he intended to invite Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant clergy to the US Capitol when introducing the proposed legislation, seeking support from Christian communities across the country. GreekReporter.com+1
However, the proposal remains a campaign pledge. Lynch lost the Republican primary in South Carolina on August 11, 2026, and was not nominated as the party’s candidate in the November 3 Senate election. There is no indication that the proposed legislation has been introduced in Congress. Ballotpedia+1
Hagia Sophia’s significance to the Greek Orthodox world
Completed in 537 AD under Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, Hagia Sophia served as the Great Church of Constantinople and one of the most important centres of Orthodox Christianity for nearly a millennium.
Following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the building was converted into a mosque.
It became a museum in 1935 under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk before Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government restored its status as a mosque in July 2020.
The decision prompted international criticism, including UNESCO’s expression of deep regret over the change. newgreektv.com+1
For Greeks and Orthodox Christians worldwide, Hagia Sophia remains one of the most powerful symbols of Byzantine history, Orthodox faith and the Greek heritage of Constantinople.
Would Greek Americans support a trade embargo?
Lynch’s proposal raises a significant question for the Greek-American community and Orthodox Christians across the United States.
A complete ban on Turkish imports would represent a major escalation in US economic policy towards a NATO ally, potentially affecting businesses, consumers and wider diplomatic relations.
Supporters of the proposal may see economic pressure as a way to defend Christian heritage and demand accountability over the treatment of historic religious monuments.
Others may question whether a blanket trade embargo is a practical way to achieve the return of Hagia Sophia, particularly given the wider strategic relationship between Washington and Ankara.
For the global Greek Orthodox community, however, the underlying issue remains deeply significant: the future of one of Christianity’s most important historic churches.
Would the Greek Orthodox community welcome a US trade embargo on Turkey if it were tied to the return of Hagia Sophia to the Church?
