Alevi leaders in court for teaching faith to children in southern Turkey

Alevi leaders in court for teaching faith to children in southern Turkey - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

“As citizens of the Turkish Republic, we want an answer to this question: Do we need permission to teach own beliefs to our children?” asked Hasan Atıcı, a member of the Adana Alevi Culture Research Foundation, or AKAD, during a press conference held outside the court building. “As we have done in the past, we will continue to teach our children our beliefs.”

Also speaking at the press conference, lawyer Kemal Derin said discrimination against the Alevi faith is routine in every corner of the country. “Here we are with our religious leaders, who are being subjected to this discrimination,” Derin said. “Children of Alevis are forced to learn about the [Sunni faith] at schools through compulsory religious education.”