Turkey’s stance during “Operation Sindoor,” siding with Pakistan, has once again widened the rift with India. Pakistan reportedly utilized Turkish drones in its conflict against India. There are many fascinating facts about Turkey, a country with a Muslim population of approximately 99%. Let’s explore them.

Turkey’s ancient name was Anatolia, which later evolved into the Ottoman Empire.

However, the lavish lifestyles of the Turkish sultans and their oppression of the populace gradually led to the decline of this vast empire.

The oppression by the Ottoman sultans grew to such an extent that local residents initiated movements to liberate themselves, weakening the empire. By the 19th century, the empire was rapidly heading towards collapse. Turkey’s condition deteriorated so severely that it came to be known as “Europe’s patient.”

Over 99% of Turkey’s population is Muslim, with more than 82,000 mosques. Many of these mosques are always open to tourists, regardless of whether you are Muslim or not.

The official language of Turkey is Turkish, spoken by 90% of the population. However, Turkey has over 30 other languages, though these are spoken by very few people. These include Zazaki, Kurmanji, Arabic, and Kurdish.

Turkey boasts many historical buildings. Among them, the oldest church, Hagia Sophia, has been converted into a mosque. There is also a very old church in Antakya, Turkey, believed to have been carved out of a cave.

Istanbul, Turkey’s historic city, is situated on both banks of the Bosphorus River. The western bank of Istanbul lies in Europe, while the eastern bank is in Asia. However, the majority of the city is in Asia, leading to its description as a “bridge” between Europe and Asia.

Turkey also has no shortage of tea lovers. According to statistics, 96% of the population drinks at least one cup of tea daily. Unlike the rest of the world, tea here is typically consumed from a tulip-shaped glass.