Court rules for Shiite minority
A Turkish high court ruled that religious education classes geared toward Sunni Muslims should not be compulsory, a major victory for a Shiite branch of Islam.
The ruling affecting Turkey’s Alevi community is also likely to please the European Union, which has made religious liberties a condition for Turkey’s membership bid.
The Alevis are followers of a tradition rooted in Shiite beliefs, and have long complained of discrimination and forced assimilation through mandatory courses on Sunni Islam in schools. An overwhelming majority of Turks are Sunni.
Turkey’s Education Ministry will now have to either introduce classes geared toward the Alevi faith or make religious classes non-mandatory.
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