"The religious freedom of Turkish Alevis is being violated"
The European Court of Human Rights says that Turkey's Alevis, who make up about 20 million of the country's population, are in a situation of inequality compared to Sunnis, and the Turkish government must end this discrimination.
After hearing complaints from a number of Turkish Alevis, judges at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled that the Turkish government had violated the plaintiffs’ religious freedom. The court said Turkey’s Alevis minority was being discriminated against “without justifiable and rational grounds.”
The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday (April 26) after hearing a complaint from 203 Turkish Alevi citizens. The court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and ordered the Turkish government to pay three thousand euros in compensation to each of them for “refusing to provide public religious services to the plaintiffs.”
The European Court of Human Rights ruling states that the Turkish government's refusal to respond to the plaintiffs' requests can be inferred that "the religious belief of the Alevis and their right to worship" is not recognized in Turkey.
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that there is an “inequity” between Turkey’s Alevis and Sunnis. The plaintiffs say Ankara does not legally protect the Alevis’ holy sites and places of worship and their religious leaders, making it difficult for them to finance and continue their activities.
The judges of the European Court of Human Rights say that the reasons the Turkish government provides for this behavior are neither relevant nor sufficient for a democratic society.
What do the Alawites want?
As Turkey's second largest religious community, the Alevis are demanding state funding and say their religious leaders should have the privilege and status of "state employees." In addition, the Alevis are demanding recognition of their religious sites and places of worship.
The Turkish government rejected a similar request from the Alevis in 2005, and the Turkish judiciary upheld the government's decision. Ankara says what the Alevis believe in is not a separate religion but a movement within Islam.
However, the judges of the European Court of Human Rights do not recognize the Turkish government's view on the "religious specificity" of Alawite beliefs, which are rooted in Turkish society and history, and say that how a religion is understood is up to the believers of that religion, not the state.
Like other Muslims, Alawites do not believe in the five pillars of Islam. For example, they do not fast or go on the Hajj pilgrimage. They believe in the equality of men and women and pray together in their places of worship.
The ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, adopted by the highest authority of this court, is final and binding on the member states of the Council of Europe. This ruling means for the Turkish government that it must refrain from violating the rights stated in the court's ruling from now on.
Source: Deutsche Welle
