For sure #HagiaSophia's return to a Masjid is a welcome move, for too long its status was a symbol of Muslim decline. Now we need to move beyond symbolic acts. Starting with the Turkish government's reprehensible policy towards China, despite China's Uyghur genocide...

Turkey year on year has increased its trade relationship with China. Bilateral trade today is worth $27bn and China today is Turkey's biggest import partner. Turkey is an active member of the Belt and Road project and actively invites Chinese tourism and cultural ties.

In recent years, China and Turkey have increased cooperation against separatist movements in Xinjiang. Turkey has also increased deportations of Uyghurs to China.

In June 2019, the People's Bank of China transferred $1 billion worth of funds to Turkey to help the Turkish economy and has opened dialogue on Turkey's membership to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The size of this trade makes the Uyghur plight an inconvenience for the Turkish government. When you weigh a Masjid with the lives of Muslims, the Messenger (saw) answers...

Abdulla bin Umar said - I saw the Prophet doing tawwaf around the Ka'aba saying "How sweet are you and how sweet is your scent. How great are you and how great is your sanctity...

... By the One who the soul of Mohammad is in His Hand the sanctity of a believer is greater with Allah than your sanctity" (Ibn Maja)

We should be holding Muslim leaders to a higher account, beyond acts of symbolism.