RELIGIOUS LESSONS NOT COMPULSORY IN TURKISH SCHOOLS

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.02.2009 18:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A Turkish court reaffirmed earlier rulings on
Tuesday that religious lessons are not compulsory in schools regardless
of faith.

A court in the southern province of Antalya ruled in favor of an Alevi
family who demanded their daughter be exempt from participating in
religious lessons at the primary school she is attending.

The local administration had defended that only Christian and Jewish
students would be exempt from participating in religious lessons in
accordance to the law that excludes Alevis.

Turkish courts have ruled to halt the implementation of compulsory
religious education in related applications. The European Court of
Justice (ECHR) also ruled against Turkey in a similar case.

"The ruling sets a precedent. Those wanting to be exempt from
participating in compulsory religious lessons should file suit,"
the student’s lawyer Nusret Gurgoz said, Anatolian Agency reports.