Silenced by Compulsory Religion at School

Bianet :: Silenced by Compulsory Religion at School

"Sometimes I am uncomfortable in Religious Education (RE) classes, but because it is compulsory, there is nothing I can do. If it becomes an elective class, I will not choose it."

Thus says an Alevi girl who is at primary school in Eyüp, Istanbul. She has obviously found nothing of her own beliefs in the RE classes, which are mostly designed to teach the tenets of Sunni Islam.

Simsek: State should not be involved in RE

On the other hand, there are also experts who argue that the state should not be involved in RE at all. Emirali Simsek, the General Secretary of the Trade Union of Education and Science Employees (Egitim-Sen) says that RE should not have a place in the constitution.

Compulsory RE classes were introduced in Turkey after the 1980 military
coup. Many Alevi organisations, but also other individuals and experts
have for years called for a change in policy.

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