In Turkey, secularists and Islamists alike revere Mehmet II, but both sides paint him in their own image.

CHR Comment: May 29th is commemorated in Turkey as the day when Mehmet II conquered Constantinople in 1453. He ended the Christian Byzantine Empire—the last remnant of the ancient Roman Empire. He likewise converted the grandest church in Christendom, Hagia Sophia of Constantinople, into a mosque. He is a controversial figure these days as different Muslim groups try to interpret his legacy and plan their future.

Source: In 1453, this Ottoman sultan ended Christian rule in Constantinople. But was he a good Muslim? – The Washington Post